urbancat's review against another edition
4.0
Cover:
The cover is beautiful. Naturally. I have been more impressed but I still think the cover is beautiful. There is no significance of the cover that connects to the book.
Quote: "I had loved him since the moment he’d taken the pudding from me. When my father had announced on Dez’s eighteenth birthday that he supported a match between us, I’d never been happier than I was in that moment. I was young. And stupid. When Dez had disappeared the very next day, I experienced a heartache that I thought would swallow me whole and never spit me out. He’d been more than a crush. He had been my best friend, my confidant and my world.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, Bitter Sweet Love
Rating: 4 stars
My Thoughts
Plot: The story was an opening to The Dark Elements Series which sets up the world for the main books and characters. It was about 100 pages and left me begging for more. A lot more. We follow and beautiful Jas through this novella and she is captivating. She is like many other of Jennifer's characters in her series. They are all strong, determined, and handed a bad hand of cards. They all somehow have impossibly bad luck which is good for readers but bad for the characters. The only thing I was upset with was that Jas seemed like a watered down version of Alex. Not that that's really a bad thing just a bit like fitting into the mold if you catch my drift.
Characters: Jas was likable and relate-able. She was a bit of a rebel but knew when to stand down and let things she couldn't handle be...well, handled. If that makes sense. Dez was hot but since this was a novella I can never get all too attached to the characters because I feel as if we don't learn enough about them to really connect. Did I like them? Yes. Were they well written? Sure. Did I love them? Sadly, no. My favorite character has to be Herbert. I hope we see him again because I fell instantly in love with the demon. He kind of reminds be of the demon from The Demon Trapper's Daughter series that Riley keeps around. Loved it.
Writing/Syntax: The writing was good a few spelling errors and a few words stringed together in one big large word. Someone did point out to me and I now take this into consideration when reviewing that when going from print to digital there are bound to be mistakes that the computer makes or misunderstands. So that is my only true critique.
Romance: The romance was good and engaging. It got hot but not too steamy which I hope changes throughout the rest of the series which will focus on Layla who we met in the book briefly.
Ending: I hate to say this but the end disappoints which i knew it must to kick off the start of an amazing new series because we don't find anything out really we just get the world setup. It's an interesting and creative world which sounds fascinating and awesome. White Hot Kiss will kick ass which all Jennifer's books do. Truly excited to hop on to another roller coaster ride series.
Recommend this for 14 + due to some sexual situations but has NO SEX. Refers to it though, young readers be advised.
Comment and pass along. Thanks readers,
Please check out my website at: http://fiercebookblogger.blogspot.com/
~Cat
The cover is beautiful. Naturally. I have been more impressed but I still think the cover is beautiful. There is no significance of the cover that connects to the book.
Quote: "I had loved him since the moment he’d taken the pudding from me. When my father had announced on Dez’s eighteenth birthday that he supported a match between us, I’d never been happier than I was in that moment. I was young. And stupid. When Dez had disappeared the very next day, I experienced a heartache that I thought would swallow me whole and never spit me out. He’d been more than a crush. He had been my best friend, my confidant and my world.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, Bitter Sweet Love
Rating: 4 stars
My Thoughts
Plot: The story was an opening to The Dark Elements Series which sets up the world for the main books and characters. It was about 100 pages and left me begging for more. A lot more. We follow and beautiful Jas through this novella and she is captivating. She is like many other of Jennifer's characters in her series. They are all strong, determined, and handed a bad hand of cards. They all somehow have impossibly bad luck which is good for readers but bad for the characters. The only thing I was upset with was that Jas seemed like a watered down version of Alex. Not that that's really a bad thing just a bit like fitting into the mold if you catch my drift.
Characters: Jas was likable and relate-able. She was a bit of a rebel but knew when to stand down and let things she couldn't handle be...well, handled. If that makes sense. Dez was hot but since this was a novella I can never get all too attached to the characters because I feel as if we don't learn enough about them to really connect. Did I like them? Yes. Were they well written? Sure. Did I love them? Sadly, no. My favorite character has to be Herbert. I hope we see him again because I fell instantly in love with the demon. He kind of reminds be of the demon from The Demon Trapper's Daughter series that Riley keeps around. Loved it.
Writing/Syntax: The writing was good a few spelling errors and a few words stringed together in one big large word. Someone did point out to me and I now take this into consideration when reviewing that when going from print to digital there are bound to be mistakes that the computer makes or misunderstands. So that is my only true critique.
Romance: The romance was good and engaging. It got hot but not too steamy which I hope changes throughout the rest of the series which will focus on Layla who we met in the book briefly.
Ending: I hate to say this but the end disappoints which i knew it must to kick off the start of an amazing new series because we don't find anything out really we just get the world setup. It's an interesting and creative world which sounds fascinating and awesome. White Hot Kiss will kick ass which all Jennifer's books do. Truly excited to hop on to another roller coaster ride series.
Recommend this for 14 + due to some sexual situations but has NO SEX. Refers to it though, young readers be advised.
Comment and pass along. Thanks readers,
Please check out my website at: http://fiercebookblogger.blogspot.com/
~Cat
alexalovesbooks's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
This novella was so cute 🥹 I actually like that I read it after reading White Hot Kiss, mostly because being familiar with the lore helped me easily slip into the story AND because I’d already met the characters this is about.
tuufa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
reginarix's review against another edition
2.0
Una introduzione ad un nuovo universo narrativo, un racconto per spiegare buoni e cattivi, regole e consuetudini... Una buona idea, così non si appesantisce con troppi dettagli il primo libro della serie. Scritto discretamente, l'autrice è una garanzia e le si perdonano cliché e banalità. I titoli scelti per l'edizione italiana sono raccapriccianti, davvero vergognosi, chi prende certe decisioni meriterebbe la pubblica derisione
soph_reads_too_much's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cute novella and a fantastic way to introduce a reader into this new world.
I think from the very first chapter I loved Jasmine and her passion. JLA has an easy and seamless writing style which quickly immerses you in the story. I also love that she doesn’t completely dump the setting of the new world onto you, but instead just lets little bits and pieces until suddenly you completely understand the world and society without having had to read massive dumps of information.
Overall I thought this was a great way to open this new series up and I am really excited to see where it goes from here.
I think from the very first chapter I loved Jasmine and her passion. JLA has an easy and seamless writing style which quickly immerses you in the story. I also love that she doesn’t completely dump the setting of the new world onto you, but instead just lets little bits and pieces until suddenly you completely understand the world and society without having had to read massive dumps of information.
Overall I thought this was a great way to open this new series up and I am really excited to see where it goes from here.
sunnydee's review against another edition
5.0
Ich glaube das war die bisher beste Kurzgeschichte zu einer mir lieben Reihe, die ich je gelesen habe.
Dez kannte ich ja bereits aus Band 1 und 2 der Dark Elements Reihe und da gehörte er bereits zu meinen Lieblingscharakteren. Jasmine war da ja eher ein blasser Charakter, was hier aber absolut nicht mehr der Fall war. Mein lieber Scholli, was ist sie für ein toller, interessanter Charakter. Selbstbewusst, neugierig und quirlig. Ein wenig hat mich das ganze an einen historischen Roman erinnert, wo der männliche, weltgewandte, erfahrene Typ der noch unerfahrenen, kaum rausgekommenen Frau, die Welt zeigt. Die Frauen werden bei den Wächtern ja wirklich extrem gehütet und dabei auch sehr eingeschränkt. Durch eine kleine List erfüllt sich Jasmine einige ihre Sehnsüchte und Wünsche und erlebt ein wenig mehr Freiheit, als es ihr normalerweise möglich gewesen wäre. Das ganze erlebt sie mit Dez, den sie bereits seit Kindheitstagen kennt und ein ähnlich enges Verhältnis zu ihm hat wie Layla zu Zayne (aus der Hauptreihe). Wie es zu dieser gemeinsamen 'Reise' kommt, solltet ihr selbst lesen. Es war auf jeden Fall wahnsinnig unterhaltsam und ich konnte Jasmines Gefühle sehr gut nachvollziehen. Dez war zuvorkommend, männlich und einfach süß zu ihr und nach und nach schmelzen ihre anfänglichen schlechten schlechten Gedanken und Gefühle. Dez hat ihr nämlich vor 3 Jahren das Herz gebrochen, als er einfach ohne ein Wort der Erklärung verschwand. Da fällt es ihr natürlich schwer nun nachdem er wieder in ihr Leben getreten ist, ihm wieder zu vertrauen. Das ganze wurde für mich sehr plausibel und real gestaltet. Ich habe es wirklich sehr genossen. Das Pärchen passt einfach perfekt zusammen.
Wertung:
5 Sterne
Dez kannte ich ja bereits aus Band 1 und 2 der Dark Elements Reihe und da gehörte er bereits zu meinen Lieblingscharakteren. Jasmine war da ja eher ein blasser Charakter, was hier aber absolut nicht mehr der Fall war. Mein lieber Scholli, was ist sie für ein toller, interessanter Charakter. Selbstbewusst, neugierig und quirlig. Ein wenig hat mich das ganze an einen historischen Roman erinnert, wo der männliche, weltgewandte, erfahrene Typ der noch unerfahrenen, kaum rausgekommenen Frau, die Welt zeigt. Die Frauen werden bei den Wächtern ja wirklich extrem gehütet und dabei auch sehr eingeschränkt. Durch eine kleine List erfüllt sich Jasmine einige ihre Sehnsüchte und Wünsche und erlebt ein wenig mehr Freiheit, als es ihr normalerweise möglich gewesen wäre. Das ganze erlebt sie mit Dez, den sie bereits seit Kindheitstagen kennt und ein ähnlich enges Verhältnis zu ihm hat wie Layla zu Zayne (aus der Hauptreihe). Wie es zu dieser gemeinsamen 'Reise' kommt, solltet ihr selbst lesen. Es war auf jeden Fall wahnsinnig unterhaltsam und ich konnte Jasmines Gefühle sehr gut nachvollziehen. Dez war zuvorkommend, männlich und einfach süß zu ihr und nach und nach schmelzen ihre anfänglichen schlechten schlechten Gedanken und Gefühle. Dez hat ihr nämlich vor 3 Jahren das Herz gebrochen, als er einfach ohne ein Wort der Erklärung verschwand. Da fällt es ihr natürlich schwer nun nachdem er wieder in ihr Leben getreten ist, ihm wieder zu vertrauen. Das ganze wurde für mich sehr plausibel und real gestaltet. Ich habe es wirklich sehr genossen. Das Pärchen passt einfach perfekt zusammen.
Wertung:
5 Sterne
kcorgi's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
raechsreads's review against another edition
4.0
The novella did not take me that long to read. This is the result of poor reading planning on my part. Truly only took me about two days and I'm ready to read the first book in the series.
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
3.0
Jasmine should have made Dez grovel like hell!
I get it. He needed to go away to shed all that anger, hate and other bad feelings in the only way that was logical to him, but it is so wrong to disappear and leave the woman you supposedly love hanging for 3 years, without even a text or an email.
But whatever! Can I just talk about the worthlessness of talking about Dez, Zayne or any other male when there is one sexy ass demon named Roth skulking in the shadows?