Dark Elements (3) - Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
And last – but definitely not least: Every Last Breath (in German Sehnsuchtsvolle Berührung). I read it in English where it contained 400 pages. Originally published 2015.
Finally, the proof: Layla is not the Lilif. But the relief is short lived. Because what ever hurts the Lilif hurts Layla and whatever hurts Layla hurts Lilith. A devil's triangle – only that Lucifer seriously hadn't had that in mind. Layla has to find a way to fix her relationships with Roth and Zayne and find out how to exterminate the Lilif without ending up dead herself. And Roth himself has still a debt to pay...
Wow! So cool! I love the books of Jennifer L. Armentrout. Seriously. That woman can write.
Okay. First of all, Roth rocks. I love him! He's funny and it's so well done how he – actually a bad guy – is really the good guy, but still a demon. It's complicated as hell, but he manages to be both good and evil. And that's proof of Jennifer L. Armentrout's genius. Try find someone who manages that limbo!
To continue. I love the scene where he so hard tries to let her go – and she doesn't actually want it. But familiars with a buzz are something I am not likely to ever to forget. Poor Bambi. Good thing Thumper didn't get off and grill something.
Which leads me to the familiars: First of all, I hate it that Bambi has to go to the witches coven! I'm kind of down with Roth on that. But Robin has something. And Thumper as well – even though that scene is so anti-climactic. Seriously, Hi, I'm big bad Alpha and I shall smite thee with my mighty blade – Hrmpf. Gulp. Cool, but anti-climactic. As for Layla: She's not the fastest one, is she? It really took her this long to actually find out that she has a guy and Roth a girl on their skin?
As for Layla herself. I love her development. It's a little fast, it could have gotten smoother, but considering the end of the second part of the series, it still makes sense. So it's okay. But I'm glad she's finally gotten around to having some self-worth. I'm sorry she has to loose her father, but as she knows herself, she never really had a real father.
Spoiler:
Whom I'm also sorry for is Zayne. Seriously, he gave her everything, but she can't give anything back. It's just good that she got around to it quite fast and didn't spin it out and hurt all three more than necessary. I really would have thought that the love triangle was solved in the very end, but I'm glad I was wrong. Even though I am so so sorry for Zayne. He got the worst.
As for other relationships: I'm glad that Danika has a romance in reach. It's good for her and Nicolai, even though I was a little surprised, because, well, Nicolai is a widower. But considering the age of marriage of gargoyles... it's fine. A little surprising, but not gross.
To the actual story line: Like I said, very well done. Especially the explanation and how people begin to fear Layla. I also like Grim, by the way. He has a hell of a humour.
Spoiler:
The ending is very well done, too. I like how Layla and Roth see each other after her “death” and the whole story with her dying and sacrificing herself is well done, too. Anything else would have been out of character for her, even though it sucked for Roth. But I'm also glad that he doesn't give her hell for what she did but understands it – even though he planned to ship her off to the Bahamas to save her, if need be.
But what I really liked was Morris and the chess game. I KNEW IT! Such. A. Cool. Scene. Even though I hope that no one ends up with entrails around their neck. That would be gross and probably not very healthy for either involved.
All in all great characters, tense till hell, original and well executed ideas and still a great humour. 4 Stars + SoGH it is.
Prequel: