Covenant (4) - Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
And next: Apollyon! (In German Dämonentochter Verwunsche Liebe (By the way, these German titles suck. They seriously do)). I read it in English where it contained 343 pages. Originally published 2013.
Alex is not happy. Because Alex isn't with the First, her love, her purpose of existence, her Seth. She's in a warded cell and this Aiden simply can't leave her alone! But she will flee and will got to her Seth and - well, what then? He wouldn't really do what Aiden says, will he? The two of them could rule the mortal world and live happily ever after - and kick the gods' butts, of course. Alex loves Seth. So why does Aiden keep fighting for her? Just because of a necklace she doesn't take of? Ridiculous!
In this book, Alex is broken on basically all ways a living thing can be broken without dying. That sucks and I’m so so sorry for her - but it's damn well realised. Really, that girl is strong as hell. She’s a one-woman army and whenever you need a character that inspires you to go your own way, to be as strong as you have to be and to go through hell, Alex is the one you want. She’s one of the toughest characters I ever read about.
I love the scene where she fights with Aiden, by the way. It's so beautiful. Okay, out of the context, if you don't know the scene, that sounds rather violence-loving. So... read the scene, then you understand what I mean.
Another thing that makes this book so damn well done is the mixture of tenseness and humour. This is an immense built-up of really, really bad scenes, in which people die and the atmosphere literally forces the breath out of your lungs. You feel as if you were there, in a living nightmare.
And then Alex’s humour absolutely ruins this. You laugh and suddenly you can bear the scenes again, it’s still tense but you’re reminded of all the good stuff. Of hope and… well, nice things. But you still can’t lay down the book.
That’s immensely difficult to accomplish – and managed perfectly.
I am so very impressed. This takes a hell of a writing skill.
But I must admit that the god would hold the puppet strings of the First was so obvious.
However, it's so sad what happened to Lea in the end.
But the scenes in the World of the Dead are very, very well done. I'm sorry for Aiden in all of this. The whole test at the beginning is really hard – and then, knowing what could happen to Alex any time?
I love the relationship between the two of them, how they are open and honest, teased by the others and make each other stronger. Alex seems to help him cross the lines of his own making, and he helps her to be the strongest and most sensible person she can be.
Apropos sensible: I love how her growing up is shown. It’s so so nicely done.
Last but not least: Apollo rules. And he needs a bell.
In brief:
Stars for style, humour, characters, ideas and content.
Prequel:
Extra:
Sequel: