https://ramblingbookaddict.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-darkest-star-jennifer-l-armentrout.html
Full review here!

GUYS DID YOU HEAR!!!!!!!!! LUX IS CONTINUING!!!!!!!
Oh right of course you know.... that's why you are reading this review!
Well first order of business. Have you read The Lux Series? YOU MUST READ THESE BEFORE READING THE DARKEST STAR. I COMMAND YOU!
No jokes. Anyway. YOU NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE. You need a Luc like ASAP.
THEN READ THE LUX BOOKS! You know you want to meet Katy, Daemon (DEAR LORDT YES), Luc and Evie in The Darkest Star.

Here's some Pepe (aka cover model for Daemon and yes he is this attractive in person) to tide you over until you read this book. I don't want to spoil anything, but Luc is just as dreamy and hot as Daemon. Thank you JLA for the wonderful book boyfriends you make!!!

I give 5 out of 5 stars for The Darkest Star!

SALT LAKE CITY — Best-selling author Jennifer Armentrout was skeptical when her editor suggested she write a book about aliens in high school.

"I laughed and said, 'No, that is the stupidest thing I ever heard,'" she said. "But then I started thinking about it and I was like, 'You know what, it's not something you see a lot of.'"

So Armentrout wrote "Obsidian," the first book in her "Lux" series, and said she honestly didn't expect anyone to read it. But Entangled Publishing, the small press Armentrout was with at the time, published her young adult science fiction novel at the perfect time — toward the end of the "Twilight" paranormal craze and the beginning of the dystopian hype.

"It just took off," Armentrout said. "It was one of those things you just couldn't imagine. Especially with a small press, it's so much harder to get your book in front of people. … So it was crazy how it just really picked up online through word of mouth and a lot of support from bloggers."

Armentrout already had a No. 1 New York Times best-selling new adult book, "Wait For You," which she self-published under the pseudonym J. Lynn before HarperCollins picked it up. But the "Lux" series, she said, sold double that book through international markets.

"It's kind of like the little book that could," Armentrout said.

Now, she's going back to the "Lux" world in a spinoff series called "Origin," beginning with "The Darkest Star" (Tor, 368 pages, ages 13 and up). A few years after the Luxen alien invasion has ended, the world is recovering and figuring out how to integrate the peaceful Luxens among them.

Then one night, 17-year-old Evie meets an attractive guy named Luc at a club. A character "Lux" readers will recognize from the original series, Luc is more than what he seems, and as Evie discovers more about him and his world, secrets from her past start to unfold. Before long, everything she thought she knew about her life is turned on its head.

"The Darkest Star" is full of twists, many that fans of the "Lux" series should be excited for.

"I think fans should definitely be looking forward to an expansion of what they've known in the 'Lux' series," Armentrout said. "Expect anything."

Though the original series is still with Entangled Publishing, MacMillan started distributing the books toward end of the series, and Armentrout decided to publish the "Origin" series with Tor, a branch of MacMillan.

"When I decided that I wanted to go back and revisit the series, I really wanted to make sure that it would be a book that teens could easily get their hands on," she said. "For that, you really have to have a good in with librarians and indie booksellers, and the publishers like Tor — they're pros at it."

Armentrout enjoys that the young adult genre crosses age barriers so fluidly that even adults in their 40s and 50s read her young adult books, but what she likes most is finding teenage readers.

When handing out advanced copies of "The Darkest Star" at BookExpo America earlier this year, Armentrout interacted with a lot of young people in their early 20s who had read her "Lux" books in high school and were excited for the new series.

"I just can't even describe how it is to realize someone grew up reading your stuff," she said. "And they're still reading it."

There weren't a lot of young adult books around when Armentrout was growing up, she said, and she wishes she would've had more. So, it means a lot to her to provide those books for young people now.

At the moment, Armentrout is contracted for three books in the "Origin" series, and the second book is scheduled to release October 2019.

I never read the original books but since this was a prequel I figured that was fine. I thought this was a very interesting and well-written story and can’t wait to continue with the series. Such a unique and imaginative world.

With her latest novel The Darkest Star, Jennifer Armentrout pays another visit to the Luxens, the alien beings who are featured in her popular Lux series. When I first requested The Darkest Star, I actually had no idea that it was a spinoff of an existing series. I was just looking for a sci-fi read and thought the synopsis for this book sounded cool. Once I realized it followed another series, I was a little worried that I would be completely lost. Thankfully, however, Armentrout does a very nice job of providing enough background on the Luxens that I was able to jump right in and follow the story without issue.

When The Darkest Star opens, we learn that the story is set four years after a Luxen invasion has left many dead and many of the Earth’s cities in ruins. Not all of the Luxen were involved in the invasion, however, so some of them are now living right alongside the humans. That’s not to say that relations between the humans and Luxens are great though. While the two groups leave each other alone for the most part, there are definitely some humans who would rather have absolutely nothing to do with the Luxens. Armentrout creates a palpable tension in the air in most of the scenes featuring humans and Luxens because they ultimately don’t trust each other.

That mistrust is evident as soon as we meet the main character, 17 year old Evie Dasher, who is accompanying her best friend to a club which happens to be a known hangout for Luxens. Evie goes because she promised her friend, but she is definitely uneasy about it. Evie’s night then takes an unexpected turn when she meets and finds herself unexpectedly attracted to a gorgeous Luxen named Luc. Something seems familiar about him, but Evie has no idea why since she’s never met him before. She’s about to get to know him a lot better though…

One of the things I really liked about The Darkest Star is that it really starts off with a bang. Armentrout hooked me immediately by not only having her main character wander into this Luxen club, but she then adds to the tension and the danger by having law enforcement raid the club, which of course sends everyone in a frenzy trying to get away.

At the same time she’s hooking me with such an exciting opening, Armentrout also introduces me to Evie and Luc, two characters that I immediately liked and wanted to get to know better. Evie is a great protagonist. It was easy to feel sympathetic toward her right away because we learn that her father was killed in the invasion and her mother is always working so Evie is on her own more often than not. I also liked watching her feelings about the Luxens evolve as she gets to know Luc and some of his Luxen friends better.

Speaking of Luc, he’s the one who really steals the show. Like all Luxens, he’s unnaturally hot. Luc is also an arrogant smart ass. He really gets under Evie’s skin from the moment they meet and most of the time she can’t decide if she wants to punch him or kiss him. He’s endearing in a really obnoxious way. I often found myself laughing out loud at some of the words that would come out of his mouth. He’s also immediately super protective of Evie, so that gives him some bonus points to offset the obnoxiousness.

The Luxens are fascinating too. As I mentioned earlier, they are ridiculously hot. Unless they are trying to disguise themselves, they always stand out as the hottest, most flawless people in the room. They also have an interesting array of powers, including being able to open locked doors, melt guns, and read minds, to name a few. I also found myself sympathetic to the Luxens because of how they are viewed by so many humans. Even though this is science fiction, there are many parallels between how the Luxens are treated and how immigrants are sometimes treated.

Last but not least, I liked that this is one of those books that has a little something for everyone. It’s a great action-packed sci-fi story, but it’s also got a great mix of romance and family drama. Throw in a few dead bodies, another species of aliens, a heavy dose of danger, and you’ve got yourself one heck of an entertaining story!

The only real issue I had while reading was that I did wish I knew a little more about the Luxens and their powers. That’s totally on me though for not having read the earlier series first. Even without that information, I still thought it was a great start to a new series.

Whether you’re already a fan of the Luxens or you’re new to this world, The Darkest Star has a lot to offer. It has left me not only wanting the next book in this new series, but also eager to backtrack and read the earlier series to fill my need for more information on the Luxens. If you’re looking for a great sci-fi read, check out The Darkest Star.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for sending a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Now, I requested this book without realizing that it was a sort of spin-off. So when I realized I had a mini freak out. But as I started reading it the story really was clear for me even though I hadn’t read The Lux series (which I will be reading soon).

The book had me entertained from the very first page. The author explained what happened in the previous books in a very simple way and that really helped me understand the world a lot better. Luc was very strange especially in the beginning of the book. I did grow to love him though. Evie was a very relatable protagonist. The story was very driven in my opinion. I really loved the world building and the plot twist towards the end.

Jennifer L. Armentrout pulled me into this world immediately. Her other books have officially made it to my to-read list. I’m looking forward to reading the previous books and the next one. If you’re looking for a fun and quick read then this is definitely one you should consider.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Jennifer Armentrout book and, at this very moment I’m chastising myself over it. I hadn’t forgotten her wonderful characters or her intriguing storylines from my past reads and wondered if this story would capture my attention as they had. I’m happy to report that this book had it all. It was like coming home. I so enjoyed being back in the Lux world and spending time with characters I knew while meeting new ones and I absolutely loved the intrigue of it all. As with all her stories, this book has smart humor, sweet romance, and a juicy plot to sink your teeth into.

As Evie stumbles across a world she didn’t know existed, at least not in the way she had been told, she finds out about herself and her family. And, in amongst the drama of having her world turned upside down is a sexy guy she can’t help but be intrigued by. Oh…and boy was I intrigued too! Luc is sexy, sly, mysterious, and oh so arrogant. But, gosh, my heart beat just a little bit faster each time I read his name. Deep down, I knew that he’s have a sweet side and I patiently waited for it to be revealed. And, when it was, an audible sigh escaped me. Luc’s desire to keep Evie safe, yet his need to have her understand what’s going on wars within him. And, it’s this constant internal battle that makes him unpredictable in the best possible way. I loved their banter and their chemistry. The romance is swoon worthy and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Of course, there is a story alongside that of Evie and Luc, and it’s certainly an interesting one. Aliens live among humans as we saw in the Lux series previously. But now it’s in a seemingly peaceful way. However, as we all know, things are most dangerous when all appears to be running smoothly. The underbelly of the Lux world has lots of intrigue for us to explore and lots of secrets to uncover. And, lucky for us, this book is just the tip of the iceberg. I can’t wait see what happens next. I hope Ms. Armentrout is writing furiously because even though it’s only been days since I finished this story, I’m ready to jump right back in.

I was lucky enough to recieve an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was amazing and so worth the wait!!! If you get the chance to read this book...DO IT!!! Also, make sure you read the Lux Series before because this book is a spin off to the series and will just help everything make more sense. I absolutely loved Evie and how she reacts to Luc and what he actually is and how things she thought she knew were untrue. I really liked that Evie was a realistic character who had flaws. Luc's shirts were the best and you just fell in love with him as you read the book. Daemon is still one of my favorite book boyfriends, but Luc definitely was trying to give him a run for his money. There were twists in this book that if it's been awhile since you read the Lux series you might not catch right away and so they may surprise you. I enjoyed catching up with some of the other characters from the Lux series that made an appearance. I really can't wait to read the sequel.

Being huge Lux fan I was so excited when I found out that Jen was writing this book, the wait has felt like forever but it was so worth it.

The story was so good, lots of twists and turns and even though I figured out the major one, it was the little ones that caught me out and made reading this a real joy. I like Evie for the most part, she has had a turbulent upbringing to say the least, I’m not adding anymore to that because it would be a total spoiler.

Luc… now if you have read the Lux the series then will mostly know all about Luc, if not then you are in for a real treat. He was just how I remembered expect a bit more grown up and way more muscular! The chemistry between him and Evie is hot and I spent a good part of the book wanting them to just give in to the attraction already!

I can’t finish this review without mention the Daemon cameos! They were so funny and on point. I did miss the rest of the gang though and I’m hoping they pop up in future books.

If you enjoyed the Lux series, you will enjoy this first book in the spin off Origin series. In this YA paranormal romance, 17 year old Evie leans that many things and people in her life are not what she thought. When she goes to a night club with a friend and meets a mysterious young man named Luc who claims not to be a Luxen, but not human either, she is drawn to him but doesn't know why. Mystery, romance, supernatural powers and more abound in this fun to read YA paranormal romance.

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.

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!

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to start by saying, while I've read this author's books before, I had not previously read the Lux series, so I wasn't fully aware of how much awesome I was in store for with this world! I am now in the process of reading the entire Lux series but I can definitely say you don't need to have read it to love this new series in the same world!
This was such a great story and I love the premise of aliens living among us. The Luxen are such a unique take on alien species that this feels entirely fresh and new, not like I'm just reading yet another alien YA paranormal romance in a flooded market.
It's hard to say too much about Evie and Luc's adventures in this story without giving away some jaw-dropping spoilers, but I loved the almost non-stop action and both Evie and Luc are extremely likable characters that don't fall flat in any way. Their emotions and reactions feel very real in the context of the story. I can't wait for the next book in this series, meanwhile, I need to get back to reading the Lux series now!

DNF. Honestly, I could not get back the first couple chapters. The main character's voice is just so ... *annoying.* I can't read a book where I'm cringing every other page, no matter how good it supposedly gets later. The cover drew my attention, but I didn't realize it was a spinoff for another series I never had an intention to read.

I received an eARC novel from the author and NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Release Date: October 30, 2018

Evie has a normal life with normal expectations. She is the buffer between her friends at times, and she loves to take photos in her spare time - especially with her new camera that she just got.

So when she goes with her friend, Heidi, to the nightclub that has humans and Luxen - well more Luxen than humans - she's a bit intimidated and freaked out. She's never done anything that wild, and Evie is completely out of her element at Foretoken club.

After Heidi left her, Evie found herself being escourted by the bouncer, she's freaking out. And when she's sitting down next to THE gorgeous guy who stole her breath from her the second she met his eyes. But once Luc opened his mouth, Evie knew she was going to have problems with his cocky attitude.

From the moment Evie talked to Luc, her entire life changed. And pretty much not for the better, since her life was falling around her every day.

But now that Evie has been thrust in a world she had no clue about, she needs to find a way to survive this chaotic mess. And she needs to figure out what she is feeling when it comes to Luc and his arrogant/presumptuous demeanor.

O. M. G.!!!!!! I AM SO GLAD THAT WE 1. GOT LUC'S STORY AND 2. GET TO REVISIT THE LUX UNIVERSE!!!! Seriously, I loved this so much! Luc is an eerily similar version of Daemon, and reading his interactions with Evie made me blush just as much as the other series!!! And Luc has no qualms keeping away from Evie, unlike how Daemon was with Katy at the beginning, so we got all of the great stuff thrown at us at once and it was just AMAZING!!!

Evie is a tough bird, She's also stubborn and a bit naive at times, but for a girl who hasn't engrossed herself with the knowledge of the Luxen, I'm not too surprised. Though I have to say, if I was in this world and aliens came to my home, I would so be doing as much research as I could to know about these foreign people who are here to stay. Plus it doesn't hurt that they are so dang attractive!! :D

The big secret that was revealed I called a mile away, but that's okay because it was amazing to see how all of the characters responded to the news. And Evie's reaction was so real and something that any normal person would have done, and I loved that. It may have been a bit much, but it was real and emotional and raw. And I loved it.

I am so, so, so glad I got an early copy of this book, and I am already antsy to get my hands on the next book because I can only imagine what is going to happen drama wise and attraction wise between Luc and Evie!

Fans are going to LOVE this book and will be sitting on the edge of their seat the whole novel!

4.5 Wine Glass #Review of The Darkest Star (Origin #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

With The Darkest Star, readers return to the unparalleled Lux universe, with a gripping new tale rife with danger, intrigue, and passion!

When Evie Dasher goes with her friend to a local nightclub known for its Luxen patrons, Evie has no idea that her life is about to be turned upside down. When, Luc, the owner of the club singles her out, she knows that she is in trouble. But when the club is raided and Evie winds up running from the authorities with the notorious Luxen, Evie realizes that nothing is what it seems...

It has been a while since I read anything from the Lux series, I honestly couldn't even remember Luc's character in the beginning. So when starting The Darkest Star I was as disoriented as our protagonist, Evie. However, I quickly got sucked into the story and soon despised every reading interruption. Lux fans are sure to rejoice with this sensational spin-off. As with any story from Armentrout, angst and action abound creating a whirlwind of sensation. With the lively dialogue, likable characters, and rich world-building, I was enraptured from the first page to the last. The Darkest Star is escapism at it's finest! Luc was a phenomenal character to get to know better, I loved his drive and protectiveness. Everything he has done has been for Evie and those he sees as his family.

“What do you want?” he asked, his gaze holding mine.
“You,” I whispered, cheeks burning.
“You have me.” His thumb dragged along my lower lip. “You’ve always had me. Always.”

Evie, who was an engaging character herself, still has a writhe road ahead of her, and The Darkest Star ended with plenty of questions left unanswered. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and am keeping my eye out for more news on it's release!

The Lux is a complex and unique sci-fi, fantasy world and while I would definitely recommend the reading of the Lux series, this first tale in the Origin series makes a fine stand-alone. Fair warning though, it is an addictive ride! If you enjoy quirky characters, an action-packed plot, and vivid story-telling in a YA setting, then I encourage you to pick up your own copy of Darkest Star today!

A new and upcoming spin-off from the Lux series! An addictive, thrilling, and swoon-worthy story by Jennifer L Armentrout. Readers will be as engaged and enthralled with this book like they did with the previous one.

I have no words but amazing for this book! The Darkest Star told a story about Evie, an ordinary high school girl whose life spiraled out of control when she met the enigmatic and mysterious Luc. What started as a fun night sneaking out to a club ended quite epically with a little twang of thrill.

The readers would not only enjoy Evie and Luc's story but will also come to a craving as these two main characters untangled the path to the past whilst dealing with all the mayhem happening around them.

An easy to love story packed with the right amount of mystery, action, romance, and adrenaline to keep on turning the pages!

Godddd. I've been sitting on this book for weeks now at this point. Trying to will myself to keep going more than just a chapter or 2 into it. And I was in such a horrible book slump. And thank goodness I pulled myself out of it.... because this book was freaking amazing!!

I fell in love with Luc back in the Lux books, and couldn't wait to have more of the shady little twerp. But this completely blew my mind on anything that I could have expected.

I love the time difference between the end of Lux and this book. It's a decent enough jump to disassociate from that series, but not enough that some familiar faces couldn't still show up and have some dialog. And for you to see what changes have been made. And still remember everything that led to this point now in this book.

Honestly, the whole transition was done so well. And I really enjoyed how Jen gave us the aftermath of all the events that went down in Lux. And created this whole kinda normalized post apocalyptic world (literally haha) that didn't seen to over done or chessy. I could completely picture this being the way the world deals with aliens invading haha. And I appreciated that aspect though.

Something I've always enjoyed about Jen's paranormal books was that ability to integrate the supernatural into the real world, and it feel organic and believable. Without becoming too over the top or unbelievable. So many small facts back the things or names she uses. And it's the small details like that, that keep Jen at the top of my favorite authors list.

But let's talk chatcaters too real quick....
As I said, I love Luc (even though I'm always going to pronounce his name as Luck... and not Luke.... I went the while Lux series thinking that.... it isn't gonna change now haha)
Hes just such a bad a** character though. He's got that cocky I don't give a flying cracker attitude that always draws me to Jen's hunky males.
But there is so much more to Luc too. He's kind and compassionate. And pretty scary too when he wants to be... and so far beyond his years. The more development we get, the more I just really adore him. He's not that annoying yet intriguing kid we met so many books ago.

And Evie... dang it, I love this girl too.
She's so completly put of her element through this book... and yet she kicks butt and takes names. And does it in the most normal and human way possible. She's got so many emotions going on and becomes so relatable. (Even though I can't relate to ya know... befriending an alien spawn and all that haha)
But I could literally see this girl being someone I would have wanted to be friends with back when I was in school if she was real. She was little shy, but yet stood her ground. And even stood up for those around her when they needed it. And I respect that in a character. Jen never ceases to give us these strong female characters. And none of them are alike either. They all have a uniqueness to them while keeping those core sound values and lessons.

And let me just say here. I won't give names yet.... because the book literally just came out... and duhh spoilers. But we get some familiar faces back!!! And gosh darn it.... it made my little book nerd heart so happy. Because they are my absolute favorite book characters ever. And I may have totally fan girl squeed when I saw them show back up haha

This book was just all around amazing. It was one of those you just can't put down, and constantly has you guessing and keeps you on your toes flipping pages. It's so fast paced and yet so detailed and easy to read. And just suckes you right in. Jen writes so wonderfully it's like your there in the pages. Her books always amaze me how well detailed they are that I can picture them the way I do. I always feel liek I finsihed a movie when I put her books down. And this one did not disappoint.

If I can tell you anything in this review, it's that you need to go grab a copy of this book as soon as possible. and while I think you could read it without first reading the Lux books (maybe...)
If you haven't read Jen's Lux series (Start with Obsidian) .... start there. It will just make this book that much better.

I without a fraction of a doubt give THE DARKEST STAR
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

89 if I could haha

Librarian: Okay Teen/School librarians listen up, if you've got girls in your library who grab all the fantasy romances and the dystopia romances and the science fiction romances and then come to the desk to chat about how sexy The Darkling/Edward Cullen/Gale/Jace is (and I know you do, we've all got 'em) than grab up this book. Because those girls are going to be all over this one. Seriously, Luc is JUST the kind of dark/edgy/sexy/heart-of-gold guy that those girls love to read about. Plus, this book actually has a good story, so unlike, say, Twilight, you won't mind discussing it for hours on end. (Always a bonus.)
Reader: I never read the Lux novels, though now I kind of feel like I have to. While this book does a good job filling in the blanks, so it doesn't feel like your missing large chunks of the plot, but I still felt like there were somethings that I would understand better if I read those. Still, I really enjoyed the book, and I'm definitely picking up the next one.

It's been a while since I've picked up a book I have a hard time putting back down. This one totally qualified. Evie was interesting and Luc was fascinating and at the end I was left with more questions than answers. I can't wait to read more in this series! Jennifer Armentrout always writes winners.

**4-happy shining stars**
I have a confession to make: I have not read the Lux series!!! Yes, it's true. I went into this having never read a Jennifer L. Armentrout book and having no idea what the Luxen were all about. I was most pleasantly surprised! I think it is a testament to Armentrout's skill as a writer that I never for a moment felt lost or like I was missing anything. If I had not heard of the Lux series prior to starting this, I would have never guessed that there was a prior series. So, if you are like me and have never read the Lux series and you don't really have time or space on your tbr to fit it in, please don't let that dissuade you. If the synopsis of this one sounds interesting to you, pick it up, have no fear, you will understand everything. This book follows teenager, Evie, as she navigates a lot of disturbing revelations about herself. Early on in the story she meets a handsome stranger, Luc, at the club ((you know how it is)) and one thing leads to another and before you know it they are running from the cops, hiding in a broom closet and then seemingly just a part of each others lives from there on out. I had a lot of fun watching Evie and Luc's relationship grow. It was heavy in the hate to love feels and I cherish that when the banter is super witty. Luc is a sexy and successful young man...well, actually he is an Origin ((Origin = the child of a Luxen + mutated human)), who is the baddest badass of all. Side Note: the Luxen are an alien race that cohabits Earth with us after they had to flee their own planet. Through Evie's new relationship with Luc a lot gets revealed to her about her own past and who she really is. Pretty much anything she thought was real, wasn't. Poor Evie really gets through for a loop in this book but she handles it as well as could be expected and her growth is satisfying. I look forward to seeing where the next book goes. I have a few ideas of areas/plot lines that I am hoping will be explored but only time will tell!
I really enjoyed Armentrout's writing style. I found it was relaxed and had a nice, even flow to it. The pace was good and there was a lot of great, natural humor that I found refreshing. I also picked up on some social commentary on issues such as race, immigration, minority communities, fear-mongering, etc. I was surprised by some of the connections I was able to make from what was happening in the book and what has happened in my own country in recent history. I always appreciate when an author throws in real social issues into a fantastical or magical narrative. It feels like finding Easter Eggs. Overall, I had a great time reading this book. I was impressed with the writing, I found it very easy to read and follow and I appreciated the fact that Armentrout made the story approachable for both new and veteran readers of her material.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me with an early copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to jump into this world created by Armentrout and am already excited for the next book in the series!

I went into this book expecting to like it all right. I wasn’t expecting to love it. I’m not very big on sci-fi books, and I’m especially not big on alien or space books. But, I’m a Jennifer L. Armentrout fan, so I thought I’d give this book a shot, and wow. I am completely obsessed with this book! It was amazing. There was so much action, there was never a dull moment. And the romance between Evie and Luc? Oh. My. God. I am obsessed.

The Darkest Star follows Evelyn “Evie” Dasher, a seventeen year old girl. This book takes place four years after an alien invasion, where an alien species known as the Luxen invaded Earth. One night Evie and her best friend, Heidi, go to a club where Luxen and humans are both allowed. While there, Evie meets a Luxen named Luc, and let’s just say that things are never going to be the same.

I also want to note that this takes place in the same universe as the Lux series. However, I don’t feel that reading the Lux series first is necessary. I’ve never read it, and even so, there wasn’t a single moment where I was lost or confused. There were a lot of references to the invasion, which I am assuming took place in the Lux books, but none of this affected my understanding of what was going on in The Darkest Star. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go devour the Lux books while I wait for the next book in the Origin series to come out.