Re-Review: Opal by Jennifer L Armentrout

I've come to realize something. Over time, my ideas on books will change, along with my reviews. I was rereading Opal when I realized this. Below, I copied the original review of Opal. In bold, I've added my comments and/or additions to the review. I will start doing this time to time when my review of a book changes. I will always note when it's a re-review. Feel free to add your opinions in the comments!

*Sigh* Opal is amazing! Yet another awesome book by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Let me tell you, the stakes are raised tremendously and you never know if there's a traitor or betrayal right around the corner! This book had so many plot twists, I could never tell what was going to happen next. It's yet another gobble-it-up in one sitting book.

Katy and Daemon, they just can't seem to get along, even when dating. They're both stubborn as mules which I'd guess is a big factor. Daemon can't stand to see Katy in danger and Katy can't stand to sit on the sidelines. They have very differing opinions, but the times they're not fighting...wow. It's the only comment I can make. Daemon is much more than a stubborn mule. While his cocky and rude attitude is funny and exciting in the first book, by book three, it's gotten kinda old. He acts increasingly mean to Katy, so much so that I couldn't finish the reread. I feel like he puts down her character. While earlier insults had no depth and Katy could brush them off, they now know each-other well and he knows exactly how to get under her skin. Daemon insults who she is, not just what she's trying to do. Katy doubts herself in this book. Not a single character stands up for her or is a friend. Her best friend is playing the blame game and Katy's going right along with it. Daemon is putting her down and he won't listen to her when she needs him to most. While I wish her character was stronger in this book, no one stepped in to help her self-esteem. She needed a rock and instead got a bunch of pebbles. The one person who seems even slightly there for Katy is Daemon's older brother Dawson. While romantically, his interests lie elsewhere, he is the only one that understands exactly what Katy's been through as of the end of book two. He empathizes with her and her with him. He's not the most stable rock, but he's there. He provides momentary relief until all the other characters come back to their senses.

Opal will make you smile and want to throw the book at the wall (I think I almost did at points). But that's what a good book and author does. While that's true, I wish the smile slightly outweighed the throw the book at the wall. If you can feel along with the characters and feel just as in deep as the characters, well, that's a good story that's sucked you right in. The books in this series have totally done that for me. Opal is the third out of five books plus a prequel. The prequel comes out in February and the fourth book comes out in the summer. Opal is fully deserving of this five star review! I enjoyed Opal as a whole. It's plot is still enticing. I just couldn't stand the characters. Luckily, I have hope for them in book four, Origin, but I will not be picking up Opal again for a while. The story is good and fun, but I can't get past the characters and therefore cannot enjoy all the amazing aspects of the book. Opal has been downgraded to a three.

Author Bio:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

You Can Find Her At:

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Synopsis:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well… There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger… and they know it.

Title: Opal
Author: Jennfer L Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release: December 10, 2012
Series: Lux
Pages: 382