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Origin (A Lux Novel, 4) Paperback – August 27, 2013
Book Four of the bestselling Lux series
Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.
After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.
All Katy can do is survive.
Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don't seem entirely crazy, but the group's goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?
Together, they can face anything.
But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?
Read the entire bestselling series!
#1: Obsidian (from Katy's point of view)
#2: Onyx (from Katy's point of view)
#3: Opal (from Katy's point of view)
#4: Origin
#5: Opposition
Oblivion (Books 1-3 from Daemon's point of view) CAN BE READ FIRST OR AFTER KATY'S POV!
Prequel: Shadows (Dawson's story)
- Print length400 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEntangled: Teen
- Publication dateAugust 27, 2013
- Grade level10 - 12
- Reading age14 - 18 years
- Dimensions5.56 x 1.11 x 8.21 inches
- ISBN-101622660757
- ISBN-13978-1622660759
- Lexile measureHL680L
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars: The beginning of Armentrout's new Lux series is a thrilling ride from start to finish. A cross between Roswell and Dawson's Creek, this series is guaranteed to hold your attention and have you begging for more.” ―RT Book Reviews on Obsidian
“Daemon and Katy are combustible...Obsidian is an action-packed ride that will leave you breathless and begging for more.” ―Jus Accardo, author of Touch on Obsidian
“I loved Obsidian! Get ready to devour this book in one sitting, fall hard for Daemon, and be desperate for book two!” ―Deborah Cooke, bestselling author of Dragonfire and the Dragon Diaries series on Obsidian
“A riveting story that will keep you turning the pages to the end, and then say, ‘I want more!'” ―Kate Kaynak, author of the Ganzfield series on Obsidian
“With a unique and entrancing story, Obsidian was action packed, dramatic, captivating, and exciting-I Am Number Four has some SERIOUS competition!” ―Wendy from A Cupcake and a Latte on Obsidian
“Talk about refreshing, Obsidian will give readers a whole new take on aliens. What Jennifer did with this story is absolutely awesome! You do not need to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy it!” ―Mundie Moms on Obsidian
From the Back Cover
Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.
After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.
All Katy can do is survive.
Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don't seem entirely crazy, but the group's goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?
Together, they can face anything.
But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?
About the Author
# 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 Russell 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.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Origin
A Lux Novel Book Four
By Jennifer L. Armentrout, Liz Pelletier, Karen GroveEntangled Publishing, LLC
Copyright © 2013 Jennifer L. ArmentroutAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-62266-075-9
CHAPTER 1
Katy
I was on fire again. Worse than when I got sick from the mutation or when onyx was sprayed in my face. The mutated cells in my body bounced around as if they were trying to claw their way through my skin. Maybe they were. It felt like I was splayed wide open. There was a wetness gathering on my cheeks.
They were tears, I realized slowly.
Tears of pain and anger—a fury so potent it tasted like blood in the back of my throat. Or maybe it really was blood. Maybe I was drowning in my own blood.
My memories after the doors had sealed shut were hazy. Daemon's parting words haunted every waking moment. I love you, Kat. Always have. Always will. There had been a hissing sound as the doors closed, and I'd been left alone with the Arum.
I think they tried to eat me.
Everything had gone black, and I'd woken up in this world where it hurt to breathe. Remembering his voice, his words, soothed some of the torment. But then I remembered Blake's parting smile as he held the opal necklace—my opal necklace; the one Daemon had given me just before the sirens went off and the doors started coming down—and my anger flared. I'd been captured, and I didn't know if Daemon had made it out along with the rest of them.
I didn't know anything.
Forcing my eyes open, I blinked at the harsh lights shining down on me. For a moment, I couldn't see around their bright glow. Everything had an aura. But finally it cleared, and I saw a white ceiling behind the lights.
"Good. You're awake."
In spite of the pulsating burning, my body locked up at the sound of the unfamiliar male voice. I tried to look toward the source, but pain shot down my body, curling my toes. I couldn't move my neck, my arms, or my legs.
Icy horror drenched my veins. Onyx bands were around my neck, my wrists, my ankles, holding me down. Panic erupted, seizing the air in my lungs. I thought about the bruises Dawson had seen around Beth's neck. A shudder of revulsion and fear rocked through me.
The sound of footsteps neared, and a face, cocked sideways, came into view, blocking the light. It was an older man, maybe in his late forties, with dark hair sprinkled with gray buzzed close to the scalp. He wore a military uniform in dark green. There were three rows of colorful buttons above the left breast and a winged eagle on the right. Even in my pain- clouded mind and confusion, I knew this guy was important.
"How are you feeling?" he asked in a level voice.
I blinked slowly, wondering if this man was being serious. "Everything ... everything hurts," I croaked.
"It's the bands, but I think you know that." He motioned to something or someone behind him. "We had to take certain precautions when we transported you."
Transported me? My heart rate kicked up as I stared at him. Where in the hell was I? Was I still at Mount Weather?
"My name is Sergeant Jason Dasher. I'm going to release you so we can talk and you can be looked over. Do you see the dark dots in the ceiling?" he asked. My gaze followed his, and then I saw the almost invisible blotches. "It's a blend of onyx and diamond. You know what the onyx does, and if you fight us, this room will fill up with it. Whatever resistance you've built won't help you here."
The whole room? At Mount Weather, it had just been a puff in the face. Not an endless stream of it.
"Did you know diamonds have the highest index of light refraction? While it does not have the same painful effects of onyx, in large enough quantities, and when onyx is in use, it has the ability to drain Luxen, leaving them unable to draw from the Source. It will have the same effect on you."
Good to know.
"The room is outfitted with onyx as a security precaution," he continued, his dark brown eyes focused on mine again. "In case you somehow are able to tap into the Source or attack any member of my staff. With hybrids, we never know the extent of your abilities."
Right now I didn't think I'd be able to sit up without assistance, let alone go ninja on anyone.
"Do you understand?" His chin lifted as he waited. "We don't want to hurt you, but we will neutralize you if you pose a threat. Do you understand, Katy?"
I didn't want to answer, but I also wanted out of the damn onyx bands. "Yes."
"Good." He smiled, but it was practiced and not very friendly. "We don't want you to be in pain. That is not what Daedalus is about. And it is far from what we are. You may not believe that right now, but we hope you will come to understand what we are about. The truth behind who we are and who the Luxen are."
"Kind of hard to ... believe right now."
Sergeant Dasher seemed to take that for what it was worth, and then he reached down somewhere under the cold table. There was a loud click, and the bands lifted on their own, sliding off my neck and ankles.
Letting out a shaky breath, I slowly lifted my trembling arm. Entire parts of my body felt either numb or hypersensitive.
He placed a hand on my arm, and I flinched. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said. "I'm just going to help you sit up."
Given that I didn't have much control over my shaking limbs, I wasn't in any condition to protest. The sergeant had me upright in a few seconds. I clutched the edges of the table to keep myself steady as I took in several breaths. My head hung from my neck like a wet noodle, and my hair slid over my shoulders, shielding the room for a moment.
"You'll probably be a little dizzy. That should pass."
When I lifted my head, I saw a short, balding man dressed in a white lab coat standing by a door that was such a shiny black it reflected the room. He held a paper cup in his hand and what looked like a manual pressure cuff in the other.
Slowly, my eyes traveled over the room. It reminded me of a weird doctor's office, outfitted with tiny tables with instruments on them, cabinets, and black hoses hooked to the wall.
When motioned forward by the sergeant, the man in the lab coat approached the table and carefully held the cup to my mouth. I drank greedily. The coolness soothed the rawness in my throat, but I drank too fast and ended up with a coughing fit that was both loud and painful.
"I'm Dr. Roth, one of the physicians at the base." He put the cup aside and reached into his jacket, pulling out a stethoscope. "I'm just going to listen to your heart, okay? And then I'm going to take your blood pressure."
I jumped a little when he pressed the cold chest piece against my skin.
He then placed it on my back. "Take a nice deep breath." When I did, he repeated his instructions. "Good. Extend your arm out."
I did and immediately noticed the red welt circling my wrist. There was another above my other hand. Swallowing hard, I looked away, seconds from slipping into full freak-out mode, especially when my eyes met the sergeant's. They weren't hostile, but the eyes belonged to a stranger. I was utterly alone—with strangers who knew what I was and had captured me for a purpose.
My blood pressure had to be through the roof, because my pulse was pounding, and the tightening in my chest couldn't be a good thing. As the pressure cuff squeezed down, I inhaled several deep breaths, then asked, "Where am I?"
Sergeant Dasher clasped his hands behind his back. "You're in Nevada."
I stared at him, and the walls—all white with the exception of those shiny black dots—crowded in. "Nevada? That's ...that's clear across the country. A different time zone."
Silence.
Then it struck me. A strangled laugh escaped. "Area 51?"
There was more silence, as if they couldn't confirm the existence of such a place. Area mother-freaking 51. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry.
Dr. Roth released the cuff. "Her blood pressure is a little high, but that's expected. I would like to do a more intensive examination."
Visions of probes and all kinds of nasty things lit up my brain. I slid off the table quickly, backing away from the men, on legs that barely held my weight. "No. You can't do this. You can't—"
"We can," Sergeant Dasher interrupted. "Under the Patriot Act, we are able to apprehend, relocate, and detain anyone, human or nonhuman, who poses a risk to the Nation's security."
"What?" My back hit the wall. "I'm not a terrorist."
"But you are a risk," he responded. "We hope to change that, but as you can see, your right to freedom was relinquished the moment you were mutated."
Legs giving out, I slid down the wall and sat down hard. "I can't ..." My brain didn't want to process any of this. "My mom ..."
The sergeant said nothing.
My mom ... oh my God, my mom had to be going insane. She would be panicked and devastated. She would never get over this.
Pressing my palms against my forehead, I squeezed my eyes shut. "This isn't right."
"What did you think would happen?" Dasher asked.
I opened my eyes, my breath coming out in short bursts.
"When you infiltrated a government facility, did you think you would just walk out and everything would be fine? That there'd be no consequences for such actions?" He bent down in front of me. "Or that a group of kids, alien or hybrid, would be able to get as far as you did without us allowing it?"
Coldness radiated over my body. Good question. What had we thought? We had suspected it could be a trap. I had practically prepared myself for it, but we couldn't walk away and let Beth rot in there. None of us could've done that.
I stared up at the man. "What happened to ... to the others?"
"They've escaped."
Relief coursed through me. At least Daemon wasn't locked up somewhere. That gave me some sort of comfort.
"We only needed to catch one of you, to be honest. Either you or the one who mutated you. Having one of you will draw the other out." He paused. "Right now, Daemon Black has disappeared off our radar, but we imagine it won't stay that way for long. We have learned through our studies that the bond between a Luxen and the one he or she mutates is quite intense, especially between a male and female. And from our observations, you two are extremely ... close."
Yeah, my relief crashed and burned in fiery glory, and fear seized me. There was no point in pretending I had no idea what he was talking about, but I would never confirm it was Daemon. Never.
"I know you're afraid and angry."
"Yeah, I'm feeling both of those things strongly."
"That is understandable. We are not as bad as you think we are, Katy. We had every right to use lethal methods when we caught you. We could've taken out your friends. We didn't." He stood, clasping his hands again. "You will see we are not the enemy here."
Not the enemy? They were the enemy—a greater threat than a whole flock of Arum—because they had the entiregovernment behind them. Because they could just snap up people and take them away from everything—their family, their friends, their entire life—and get away with it.
I was so screwed.
As the situation really sank in, my tenacious grip on keeping it together slipped, and then completely fell away. Stark terror whipped through me, turning into panic, creating an ugly mess of emotions powered by adrenaline. Instinct took over—the kind I hadn't been born with but had been shaped by what I'd become when Daemon had healed me.
I sprang to my feet. Aching muscles screamed in protest, and my head swam from the sudden movement, but I remained standing. The doctor moved to the side, his face paling as he reached for the wall. The sergeant didn't so much as blink an eye. He was not afraid of my badassery.
Calling upon the Source should've been easy, considering all the violent emotions rolling within me, but there wasn't a rush—like the kind you get when you're poised atop a high roller coaster—or even a building of static over my skin.
There was nothing.
Through the fog of horror and panic clouding my thoughts, a bit of reality seeped in, and I remembered I couldn't use the Source in here.
"Doctor?" said the sergeant.
In need of a weapon, I darted around him, heading for the table with the tiny instruments. I didn't know what I would do if I managed to get out of this room. The door could've been locked. I wasn't thinking beyond that very second. I just needed to get out of there. Now.
Before I could reach the tray, the doctor slapped his hand against the wall. A horrific, familiar sound of air releasing in a series of small puffs followed. There was no other warning. No smell. No change in the consistency of the air.
But those little dots in the ceiling and walls had released weaponized onyx, and there was no escaping it. Horror drowned me. The breath I took cut off as red-hot pain started at my scalp and coursed down my body. Like I was being doused with gasoline and set ablaze, a fire swept over my skin. My legs gave out, and my knees cracked off the tile floor. The onyx-filled air scratched my throat and scorched my lungs.
I curled into a ball, fingers clawing at the floor as my mouth opened in a silent scream. My body spasmed uncontrollably as the onyx invaded every cell. There was no end. No hope that the fire would be extinguished by Daemon's quick thinking, and I silently called out his name, over and over again, but there was no answer.
There was and would be nothing but pain.
* * *
DAEMON
Thirty-one hours, forty-two minutes, and twenty seconds had passed since the doors had closed, separating Kat from me. Thirty-one hours, forty-two minutes, and ten seconds since I last saw her. For thirty-one hours and forty-one minutes Kat had been in the hands of Daedalus.
Each second, every minute and hour that ticked by had driven me fucking insane.
They had locked me up in a one-room cabin, which was really a cell decked out in everything that would piss off a Luxen, but it hadn't stopped me. I'd blown that door and the Luxen guarding me into another damn galaxy. Bitter anger surged through me, coating my insides with acid as I picked up speed, flying past the row of cabins, avoiding the cluster of homes, and heading straight for the trees surrounding the Luxen community hidden under the shadows of Seneca Rocks. Not even halfway there, I saw a blur of white streaking straight for me.
They were going to try to stop me? Yeah, not going to happen.
I skidded to a halt, and the light zoomed past and then whirled around. Shaped like a human, it stood directly in front of me, so bright that the Luxen lit up the dark trees behind him.
We are only trying to protect you, Daemon.
Just like Dawson and Matthew had thought knocking me out at Mount Weather and then locking me up would protect me. Oh, I had a nuclear-size bone to pick with those two.
We don't want to hurt you.
"That's a shame." I cracked my neck. Behind me, several more were gathering. "I have no problem hurting you."
The Luxen in front of me extended his arms. It doesn't have to be this way.
There was no other way. Letting my human form fade was like shedding too-tight clothing. A reddish tint spread over the grass like blood. Let's get this over with.
None of them hesitated.
Neither did I.
The Luxen shot forward, a blur of brilliant limbs. I dipped under his arms, springing up behind him. Catching his arms, I slammed my foot into his bowed back. No sooner had that Luxen gone down than another took his place.
Launching to the side, I clotheslined the one racing at me and then dipped, narrowly missing a foot with my name on it. I welcomed this—the physicality of fighting. I poured every bit of fury and frustration into each punch and kick, tearing through three more of them.
A pulse of light cut through the shadows, aiming straight for me. Bending down, I slammed a fist into the ground. Soil flew into the sky as a shockwave rippled outward, catching the Luxen and tossing him into the air. I sprang up, grabbing him as intense, bright light blew off me, turning night into day for the briefest moment.
I spun, tossing him like a disk.
He smacked into a tree and hit the ground, but he quickly shot to his feet. Charging forward, white light tinged in blue trailed behind him like a tail on a comet. Lobbing at me what amounted to a nuclear power–strength ball of energy, he let out an inhuman battle roar.
(Continues...)Excerpted from Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Liz Pelletier, Karen Grove. Copyright © 2013 Jennifer L. Armentrout. Excerpted by permission of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- Publisher : Entangled: Teen (August 27, 2013)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1622660757
- ISBN-13 : 978-1622660759
- Reading age : 14 - 18 years
- Lexile measure : HL680L
- Grade level : 10 - 12
- Item Weight : 14.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.56 x 1.11 x 8.21 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #111,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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# 1 NEW YORK TIMES, # 1 International, and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in West Virginia. She also writes under the name J. Lynn. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K-9 partner named Diesel and her hyper Border Jack Apollo, and a slew of farm animals that include alpacas, goats, and sheep.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers love this book as the best installment in the Lux series, praising its suspenseful storyline with twists and turns, and how it keeps the plot moving. They appreciate the character development, particularly the new character Archer, and the romance between Katy and Daemon, noting how their love grows stronger throughout the book. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting the author's skill in writing conversation, while the emotional content is intense and heartwrenching. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it fast-paced while others note slow moments.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as epic and awesome, with one customer noting it's the best in the Lux series yet.
"...The sex is young adult but still satisfying for older readers. I love how Daemon makes it so fun and playful. Final Thoughts..." Read more
"...This is still a very enjoyable story and series ... one that I can never put down as I am reading. Warning ... people die in this one...." Read more
"...knows how to make magic with every word and page, and I enjoyed reading EVERY single part of this book!..." Read more
"...Let me tell you, this book was amazing. If you look back at my not to amazing review of the previous book, this one turns it all around...." Read more
Customers find the book's storyline enthralling and full of suspense, with twists and turns that make it one of the most intense books in the series.
"...I want to see more of him. The action was great. The story was amazing because so much happened that nothing can ever be the same, no..." Read more
"...it is 100% worth the wait. The suspense is a killer. The revealed secrets and revelations are mind-shattering. The romance is hot hot hot...." Read more
"...The Lux series is one of my favorite paranormal YA series ever, and I don't mind that there are less steamy scenes in it than in the books I use to..." Read more
"...It really helped the story feel more well rounded. The two sided POV made me love both of these characters even more...." Read more
Customers love the characters in the book, appreciating how the author introduces new ones and sheds light on existing ones, with one customer particularly enjoying the new character Archer.
"...I loved the new character Archer. He is the strong, handsome, but deadly type...." Read more
"...Daemon. Love him! He is strong. He is protective. He is snarky. And, oh how he loves Katy!..." Read more
"...The dual POV's was wonderful on Jen's part! She expertly balances both Katy and Daemon's voices, which I absolutely adored..." Read more
"...Origin shed some light on his character and I had loads of fun getting to know him more. Katy develops exponentially in this book...." Read more
Customers enjoy the romance in the book, particularly the relationship between Katy and Daemon, noting how their love grows stronger throughout the story.
"...He is a man possessed, possessed with love and determination. Daemon makes my ovaries all tingly in this book (oh yeah, I just said that)...." Read more
"...The revealed secrets and revelations are mind-shattering. The romance is hot hot hot...." Read more
"...Katy and Daemon's voice are complimentary to each other's, and they told the story perfectly...." Read more
"...big reveals that just keep coming along with the action, dialogue and romance...." Read more
Customers find the book thrilling and entertaining, with excitement throughout from beginning to end, and one customer mentions plenty of swoon-worthy moments.
"...I love how Daemon makes it so fun and playful. Final Thoughts I would highly recommend Origin...." Read more
"...Anyway, I just loved this book. It was so amazing and fun. I cannot get enough of the characters or the story...." Read more
"...He is an interesting and very complex character, which leads back to the title of the book -but nope, I won't spoil anything, just read for yourself...." Read more
"...If you're new to YA Alien books, try this series out. It's fun, quick and easy reading and pretty addictive." Read more
Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, describing it as heartwrenching and intense, with one customer noting how easily the writer conveys feelings while reading.
"...-jaw-dropping book that will elicit the most frustrated yet contented feelings from you. Perfect in all cases!..." Read more
"...This book sent me threw a range of emotions, which I liked. I'm all about really getting into a story...." Read more
"...Jennifer pulls out all the stops with ORIGIN. There's shock, sigh worthy, laugh out loud and "No she did not just do that!" moments...." Read more
"...and isn't afraid to kill of main characters, which makes the read always anxiety ridden -- a good thing. I wasn't a huge fan of Daemon in this book...." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting the author's effective use of dual points of view.
"...The writing is as amazing as always. The characters begin to heal, only to hurt all over again...." Read more
"...You'll like him. Origin is written in dual POV, and the ppl that know me, know how much I love that...." Read more
"...protectiveness and doing all he could to be there for her was so well written. I loved it...." Read more
"...Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing is by far amazing and so many other words that relate to that word...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced with great action sequences, while others note moments that are kind of slow.
"...There were no slow moments at all, and this is the craziest ride to date with Daemon and Katy...." Read more
"...If you're new to YA Alien books, try this series out. It's fun, quick and easy reading and pretty addictive." Read more
"...to give my heart time to recover I still found the entire book difficult to put down...." Read more
"...Holy Moly!! It was extremely fast paced and did.not.let.up! What I don't like about this book is that Cliff Hanger at the end...." Read more
Reviews with images

LOVED THIS AS MUCH AS THE FIRST BOOK-- INCREDIBLE!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2014At A Glance
Origin is the best book of the Lux series so far.
The Good
For some reason, even though I loved this book, I am having trouble writing this review. So I think I will just ramble and see what I come up with instead of pointing out certain things like I usually do.
I am walking away from this book so damn excited that I got to read Daemon’s POV (it was a dual POV with Katy as well). As a girl, I always want to know what a guy is thinking, so getting Daemon’s true feelings for Katy was amazetastic (oh yeah, I just made up a new word. Spread it around, my minions! ;) And, boy, does Daemon have some strong feelings.
Origin starts off close to when Opal ended. Daemon wakes up to people trying to keep him from saving Katy from their enemies’ clutches. Not because they don’t love Katy, they just don’t want Daemon to get hurt. Daemon is having none of that sh*t. He goes out guns blazing to save the girl he loves. He will do ANYTHING to save Katy, and he proves this by doing just that. There are casualties along the way, but nothing will stop Daemon from this mission. He is a man possessed, possessed with love and determination. Daemon makes my ovaries all tingly in this book (oh yeah, I just said that). I can’t help but want what Katy has. Daemon has no limits when it comes to Katy’s safety, and my weird brain thinks that’s romantic.
Katy handled her situation pretty well. I loved that she both played along and rebelled against her captures. Though I wish she wasn’t so easily manipulated, I still loved her determination. Daemon was her rock though. When they finally see each other again, Daemon keeps them going, keeps them hopeful for survival and a future even when the road ahead of them seems bleak.
I loved the new character Archer. He is the strong, handsome, but deadly type. You never know what he is thinking or who’s team he is on, but deep down you feel like he is a good guy. I want to see more of him.
The action was great. The story was amazing because so much happened that nothing can ever be the same, no going back to a normal life for these aliens and their friends. There is a cliffhanger ending, but I am use to it by now, so it didn’t bother me.
The Bad
There isn’t really anything bad about this book I can point out, I just didn’t feel it was quite 5 star worthy. Other books have excited me more, other books have made me feel more for the characters. Know what I mean?
Okay, wait, I just thought of something I didn’t like. I don’t mind when characters are killed off, I actually liked it sometimes because it causes so much drama. But Armentrout killed off characters in Origin like it was going out of style. It was a freaking free for all. I didn’t see a point to all those deaths one after another.
The Snuggly
Katy and Daemon have taken their relationship to a whole other level in Origin. I really truly feel their love is impenetrable. I loved getting Daemon’s POV on their relationship. These two love each other so much it almost hurts to read about.
The sex is young adult but still satisfying for older readers. I love how Daemon makes it so fun and playful.
Final Thoughts
I would highly recommend Origin. If you love the Lux series then you are going to love this book. Be ready for changes though. A lot happened in this book and it might upset some people, but it will excite a lot of people. Highly recommended.
Quotes
“So I was thinking, there’re eighty-six thousand, four hundred seconds in a day, right? There’re one thousand, four hundred and forty minutes in a day…There’re one hundred and sixty-eight hours in a week. Around eighty-seven hundred and then some hours in a year, and you know what?…I want to spend every second, every minute, every hour with you…I want a year’s worth of seconds and minutes with you. I want a decade’s worth of hours, so many that I can’t add them up.”
“As close as you’re riding me, man, I feel like I need to take you out to dinner or something. At least, I should get your name.” He punched in a floor number, smirking.
“People call me Archer.”
“I want to get to know every freckle and every curve on a personal level.”
“I think you did that last night.”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “That was just a meet and greet. I want to know their hopes and dreams.”
“A certain bone-deep understanding occurred and my hand tightened around the smaller one I held. It weren’t stars we were staring at. The sky was falling.”
- Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2013I hardly know what to say after finishing Origin. The last three chapters were so intense that I actually had to take temporary breaks while I was reading. It was just so ... intense (I can't think of a better word here). And what in the world does that ending mean? Another cliffhanger? REALLY?
Origin displays all of the things that make a Jennifer Armentrout book so wonderful to read. There is heart-pounding action, surprise twists, and completely swoon-worthy romantic moments. Even with all the breaks I had to take at the end in order to give my heart time to recover I still found the entire book difficult to put down. You know those books you have to carry with you everywhere so that you can sneak some reading in at every available moment in the day? Yeah. This is one of those books.
The book begins with Katy imprisoned by the secret government agency, Daedalus. They try to confuse things a bit, making themselves to be the good guys and the Luxen to be the bad guys. I wasn't a huge fan of Obsession, Jen's VERY adult book that focused on the Arum, but I do think that having read that book made the events of this book easier to understand. Things are definitely not so black and white, and Katy begins to see that to some extent. But it is hard to sympathize a lot with a group of people who are keeping you captive and have harmed your loved ones. While Katy is captured Daemon is doing all he can to figure out how to save her. I won't spoil anything to say how he manages to rescue her from a highly secure government facility. I'll just say that fans of Daemon and Katy do not need to worry that they will be separate for this story. They find each other soon enough, thank goodness.
What happens after this escape is just insane. Absolutely insane. Government conspiracy theorists should really like the direction this story takes. I spent the last half of the book almost in disbelief, hardly believing that something like this could actually happen in real life. But, then again, this is a story about aliens living among us, so I should probably get over myself for a bit and just go with the flow and put some reality aside to enjoy the story. The government in this story is just so bad. So, so bad. Creepy bad.
So ... what I liked about this story:
Daemon. Love him! He is strong. He is protective. He is snarky. And, oh how he loves Katy! This is not a story about any angst between two people in love. No. Daemon is all in for this one. This is a story about how far someone is willing to go in order to protect the person he loves. And Daemon is willing to go far. Way far.
Katy is great in this story as well. I really kind of miss the book loving blogger who was just trying to live her high school life among aliens from the first books in this series. Now Katy is neck deep in alien politics, and things are not pretty for her. She did a great job in this story working through all of the mess that the government threw at her. If there was ever any doubt about Katy's strength, by the end of this book there shouldn't be.
The little shout out to Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins. That was super cute.
With all that there is to like in this book, I still found enough that didn't thrill me to knock a star off of my rating. There is a big reveal in this book (which I won't spoil) that was so totally Breaking Dawn in nature that I had to roll my eyes. A lot. It's fine. It doesn't ruin the story and it adds a new element of intrigue to things, but it just didn't sit quite right with me as it was introduced. But, like I say, it doesn't ruin things. And, to be honest, as much as the ending had my heart pumping, at a certain point things were almost too dramatic. I felt like I was in the middle of an alien soap opera drama. Not a bad one. A great one. Really. But part of me wished for a return to the types of drama faced in the beginning books of this series. That drama was quite a bit calmer and more focused on emotions and things like that. This drama is definitely more along the level of drama you find in an action movie. But having said that, it only slightly takes away from the overall story. This is still a very enjoyable story and series ... one that I can never put down as I am reading.
Warning ... people die in this one. So much tragedy. And there is very little time to process much of what happens. Just prepare yourself.
Overall this is another great addition to the Lux universe by Jennifer Armentrout. I can't wait to see how it all ends with the final book published next year. Next year! How am I supposed to wait so long? Right now things look VERY grim for Daemon, Katy, and company. Four stars!
Top reviews from other countries
- aninhap_znReviewed in Brazil on November 12, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME
That's it. I'm pissed, but I can't get enough. I've never been so nervous about a book in my life, and I read A LOT. Best series ever, not even joking.
-
alba m iglesias rodriguezReviewed in Spain on September 2, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime
Me animé a comprarlo en ingles xq no lo había en castellano y ha merecido la pena el esfuerzo. El libro está genial, muy en la linea de la saga. En este nº hay partes narradas desde el punto de vista de Kate y otras desde el punto de vista de Daemon. Al principio esto me daba miedo, pensé que no sincronizaría con las partes narradas por el chico pero en absoluto, ha sido genial (como pega diré que no creo que la mayoría de los chicos piensen cosas tan románticas y dulces).
La experiencia me ha gustado tanto, y he quedado tan enganchada, que me he animado a comprar Opossition también en inglés.
-
Carole - My-bo0ksReviewed in France on June 23, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Une suite spectaculaire !
Lorsque l'on commence Origin, on reprend exactement là où on s'est arrêté. Katy a été emmené par les Arums et remise au Daedalus. Et la grande nouvelle de ce quatrième tome c'est bien sur, le point de vue de Daemon !! Quel plaisir de pouvoir avoir son point de vue en plus de celui de Katy. Ca ajoute vraiment quelque chose au roman, et puis on découvre ce qu'il pense vraiment ! Daemon va tout faire pour retrouver Katy, et ça, tout seul puisqu'il ne veut pas mettre en danger sa famille ni même attendre plus longtemps sachant très bien ce qu'ils vont faire à Kat. De son côté Kat va subir de nombreux tests visant à déterminer jusqu'où vont ses capacités. Et ces tests sont loin d'être une partie de plaisir. Ils vont la pousser à bout tout en lui racontant une toute autre version des choses concernant nos aliens préférés. Leur vrai but sur terre. Kat se montre à nouveau très forte et tente de survivre. Une fois de plus, le personnage de Blake est de retour ! Quel *** celui là ! Vous vous en doutez, je ne le supporte toujours pas et même encore moins. C'est vrai quoi, encore une trahison à son actif ! Du coup, je vous avoue, la tournure des évènements le concernant, m'a beaucoup plus (Oh, quelle méchante je suis) [spoiler]en la poussant à bout, Kat fini par le tuer durant l'un des fameux tests[/spoiler].
De son côté Daemon arrive à se faire emmener à l'endroit où se trouve Kat, mais pas sans concessions. Il va devoir faire tout ce qu'ils veulent. Leurs retrouvailles sont... très belles et tellement attendues ! A chaque page je n'attendais que ça. On apprend de nombreuses choses à partir de ce moment là. D'abord, la raison pour laquelle ils veulent à la fois un luxen et un hybride mais aussi la signification du titre : Origin [spoiler] ils leur font faire des bébés pour avoir un parfait mélange entre les deux espèces ! C'est assez tordu quand même ! D'où la fameuse salle de bain en commun ! Bande de malins ! Et puis en plus, ils sont fiers de dire que s'ils ne sont pas consentants, ils le font in vitro.[/spoiler] Bien sur, Kat et Daemon font tout pour ne pas tomber dans le piège ! En attendant de pouvoir s'enfuir.
La suite et fin de ce quatrième tome est vraiment géniale ! La meilleure partie peut-être. On a eu le droit à de très beaux moments Katy/Daemon qui sont juste parfaits ensembles ! Ils sont tellement mignons qu'on voudrait que ça dure. [spoiler]Leur mariage qui est un moment fort du tome, ou encore l'annonce de Dawson concernant Bettany ![/spoiler] Mais bien sur, comme à chaque fin de tome avec JLA, nous avons le droit à des bouleversements totalement incroyables ! [spoiler]Matthew les trahis une fois de plus, là j'étais vraiment choquée, et puis la mort de Andrew & Ash... c'est juste pas possible... on a aussi la grande révélation au public de leur vrai nature.[/spoiler]. Ce tome s'achève donc de façon très spectaculaire avec l'arrivée de toute la communauté luxens ! Le dernier tome s'annonce donc assez tendu, j'ai hâte de le lire !
[...]
- Samantha (The Secret Life of a Bookworm)Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Origin - Definitely the best one yet!
As soon as the kindle copy became available on Amazon, I had this baby pre-ordered! I knew I had to get my hands on it ASAP after that horrible cliffhanger at the end of Opal. It downloaded onto my kindle just after midnight and I managed to squeeze in a couple of chapters before I passed out. And then as soon as I woke up, I was back to reading it. I fell in love with this series in July and yet again, this book was fantastic. Seriously, there hasn't been one book in this series that I haven't loved every second of (even if some parts tear out my heart and make me want to cry).
I freaking LOVED that this book was told from both Katy and Daemon's POV. I was ecstatic to get a look inside Daemon's head for once and see what goes on inside there. And of course, I loved hearing from Katy as usual because she's fantastic.
So the main focus of the first part of this book was getting Katy back. Daemon would stop at nothing to get Katy back - "Did you think you could stop me? I'll burn the world down to save her". And then Daemon goes off and does his usual crazy stupid stuff to get Katy back - the guy will actually do anything for her and it melts my heart. And as usual, Daemon's crazy ass ideas get him into trouble, not like he really cares though. He just wants Katy back.
I loved getting an insight into Daemon's mind in this book. It only made me love him more. The fact that Daemon is willing to risk his life to save Katy makes me love him more. Seeing how desperate he was to get her back and how much he loved her was heartbreaking. Daemon is a strong and determined character. When he's set his mind to something, no one can stop him. I love his determination. Sometimes he makes stupid and rash decisions, but they're always to protect someone he cares about.
Katy is one freaking strong and badass character. After being captured by Daedalus, Katy never lets them push her around. She stood her ground and stood up for herself. Even though she ended up getting hurt, she never gave into them. I adore Katy's strength. Even when she's scared to the bone, she never lets it show. She's a powerful, strong, sarcastic and lovable character.
Daeman and Katy had me squealing a hell of a lot during this book. I just adore those two together so much! It's unbelievable how perfect they are for each other. They're both so sarcastic and stubborn, and they make such a good team. There was a scene in this book about the two of them that brought tears to my eyes because it was just such a perfect moment.
Some of the things that were revealed about Daedalus was shocking. We found out why Daedalus was trying to find Hybrids and their creators which was shocking! I can't believe the force/coerce people into doing that! It's not right, especially since we found out what they do if everything goes wrong.
We also found out about the Origins. Origins are the offspring of Hybrids and Luxen - which is something that they didn't think was possible. They are born with immense powers and knowledge well beyond their years. Some of the stuff they can do is pretty freakin' scary. But I loved learning about them and seeing them. The fact that Daedalus kept them locked up was sickening. Sure, they're powerful, by they're also kids! They deserve a normal life instead of being locked away and treated like test subjects.
Blake got what he deserved in this book. I wish it hadn't happened the way it did, but it did and he fully deserved it. He was an ass.
The ending was manic and emotional. There were so many twists and stabs in the back that I just couldn't believe it! I felt so bad for the Black's when they found out that someone close to them betrayed them. And then of course, there was the massive showdown in Vegas. I was on the edge of my seat because I knew that no good could come from it. There was definitely going to be heartache and pain, and I was completely right. It was spectacular to see though. I did enjoy all the action and fighting, but there were parts that left me in tears.
Dawson's big reveal at the end didn't come as a shock to me. I'd already guessed it earlier on in the book, but I am excited to see what's going to happen! I'm really looking forward to seeing that story unravel!
And that ending! Oh, holy crap! I can't wait to see what it's going to bring for the next book because there's definitely going to be something major going down.
Overall, this was yet again another fantastic book by Jennifer L Armentrout! She sure knows how to make you feel happy and kick you in the gut at the same time (which is a good thing!). She had me feeling ecstatic, angry, sad and a hell of a lot more throughout this book because it was so damn good! So if you haven't read this series yet, what the hell are you waiting for? I insist that you go and read it right now because it's pretty freaking awesome!
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Australia on July 17, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this book
I enjoyed this story about Katy Swartz and Daemon Black (triplets - Dee and Dawson & Beth). I enjoyed their journey so far and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.