ARC Review: Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Apollyon (Covenant #4)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 360 pages
Format acquired: Paperback (ARC)
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publication date: April 9th 2013
Source: Borrowed (Thanks, Precious!)
Pre-order the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

As soon as I finished reading Deity, I just knew that I needed to read Apollyon. (Those who have Deity know what I'm talking about.) I am so blessed that I have awesome blogger friends who are willing to lend books to desperate people. It's not that the ending of Deity was super cliffhanger-y but the way it was written would've been enough to make someone need the next book. Jennifer Armentrout never fails to deliver and give the very best that she could give. And she certainly delivered and gave me everything I could ever ask for and more in Apollyon.

I'm sure that after finishing Deity you are all left thinking the same question: What in heavens name happened to Alex... and why in the hell would Jennifer Armentrout leave us hangin' like that?! That's actually two questions but let's face it, it's true. While you do have the option to read the novella, Elixir (Covenant #3.5), which comes after Deity and is told in Aiden's point-of-view, it still won't be enough to satisfy your need. Trust me, I know. But it is a good idea to read Elixir because you know what happened exactly what before Apollyon (there are some parts that were mentioned in Apollyon that happened in Elixir and not in Deity.)

Apollyon has a lot more action and death than the other three books before it. Now, I won't actually tell you dies but I will tell you that it gets pretty gloomy. And people certainly get smarter in Apollyon.

I was glad to finally understand what it means for an Apollyon to Awaken, for the First to become one with his partner. Honestly, it was creepy. It isn't just because Alex's eyes turned the same gold as Seth's or that they could communicate through their minds now, it's because you could literally just see the real Alex die. Her tenaciousness was replaced by a viciousness, her humor replaced by menace and her spirit? It died and was resurrected but it turned out that the wrong spirit came back to life. Ugly picture? Well, I'm not done. Add the fact that she acted like The Exorcist (the 1973 version) minus the 360-head spin. I'm sure you're all thinking that I might just be exaggerating and that she wasn't actually that evil but no, she was. Since it is in Alex's point-of-view, you can just see how malicious her thoughts were and I was really scared and just a tad bit amused. I was afraid to see one of my most favorite heroines lose herself, the very qualities that I am sure made a lot of people fall in love with her. I was terrified that she wouldn't be able to return to her normal self because she had too much First in her. And of course, I was frightened for Aiden. The guy who gave it all up to be with the girl he loves even though he knew that it was forbidden, and now that girl isn't the girl he fell in love with anymore and it was just painful. I was heartbroken for those two but because of my morbid sense of humor, I also found it a little bit funny. Not the fact that Alex was evil or that Aiden's heart was slowly breaking because Alex was apparently "choosing" Seth over him but because of Alex's threats to him. At first they were pretty, well, threatening but as the days and story went on, you'll just find humor in them.

I can never dislike Jennifer Armentrout for long (even when she ended Opal the way she did.) Probably because she gives as good as she gets. She tries to keep you hanging and worried but when you're not looking and aware, she pounces on you and gives you what you've been asking for all along. And that's the time that you finally, finally breathe that huge sigh of relief... BUT (you knew that was coming) while you're breathing that sigh of relief, Jennifer Armentrout throws probably the biggest curve ball man will ever see and unfortunately, you didn't see it because you were too busy basking in that false sense of relief. That's how I felt while I was reading Apollyon. I am such a masochist... Haha! But seriously speaking, that's why I love Jennifer Armentrout, she always catches you by surprise. At first you think that you've finally gotten her but really, she got you. And that's one of the things that makes a great author, never losing that element of surprise (right beside pulling people's heartstrings, which she also did.)

What's a Covenant book without our favorite, brood-y instructor? Nothing. Every Covenant book needs some Aiden time. If you didn't love Aiden in Deity *looks at the firm Team Seth peeps* you'll fall really hard for him in Apollyon. It isn't just because he's insanely sexy and brooding but it's because he is such a great influence to Alex. He levels her and keeps her grounded but at the same time gives her all the support she needs when no one else believes in her. He is her rock and foundation and I loved that about him. He never gave up on her and just flipped off the rules of their society because he believed in their love and he believed in Alex. Do you think you'll ever meet a man who would go to the Underworld with you even though he knew that he might never come back? (Not talking to you, Percy!) Will you ever meet a guy who would willingly go against the gods that created him to protect the one he loves? No, right? You will really feel the depth of Aiden's love for Alex here and you will also see the sacrifices he will be making for her.

All you Covenant fans out there will definitely be in for a treat. Apollyon is a beautifully intricate weave of heart-stopping action, mesmerizing writing and steamy romance that will satisfy your every craving but will also leave you begging for more. Jennifer Armentrout will you move you with a rocking force in this installment of her Convenant series and she definitely won't stop till you can feel its effects to your very core. Jennifer, you have done it again!

If you haven't begun with this series yet, I suggest that you start with it now. You won't want to miss a thing! *walks off and sits in a corner while waiting for Sentinel to come out* Won't be long now...

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