White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

♥♥♥♥

(Four Solids Hearts)

Book Summary

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

My Review

Granted this isn’t Divergent even if Divergent would have been paranormal and not dystopian but it is classic JLA. My personal belief is that this author is at her best when writing angsty hormone filled young adult stories like her Lux and Convent series. What makes this one good is it is more unique in its opening book than the other two, not to take away from those amazing series.

I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading the first line of the blurb one kiss could be her last. It read much like another young adult paranormal series I read long ago. Kind of the same with a “good guy” that the heroine shouldn’t be with and a “bad boy” she’s perfect for.  And the whole kissing theme is kind of the same. But the plot arc is different I guess.

If you are a YA urban fantasy lover, this book may not be for you. This is more of a paranormal romance story because the focus is more on hormone filled moments. And in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with it. There is still world building and a problem or problems to solve, but they center more around the heroine and her life. Much like a coming to age story.

And there were times when I wanted to smack Layla, but she’s lived a sheltered life. I couldn’t blame her for some of her reactions and responses to certain things. She did however break out of her shell at some point in the book and I’m totally looking forward to the next one.

There are two hunky guys in this one. I can’t say it’s much of a love triangle when one guy isn’t available for a number of reasons. And it’s only her love for him that makes some sort of triangle. Anyway, I’m anxious for the next book in the series and will snap it up as soon as the audio version becomes available.

Audio Review
Saskia Maarleveld did a good job with narration. She did a great job with keeping the characters sounding different.

My book boyfriend Roth (as if there was any other choice)

View all my reviews

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