Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout

Title: Half-Blood
Author: Jennifer Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Pages: 281
Format: E-book
Source: Gifted 
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy  

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is.

If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

I have been told by so many people to check this book out and after meeting Jennifer Armentrout herself 4 years ago, I finally decided to sit myself down and read this book. All I can say is why in the world did I wait this long to read this series. I am at a loss of words and I feel that there are not enough excuses to pardon me for the wait.

The book was good. I know that is such a bland word to use or one could say even a simple word to describe a book but that is how I feel. It was what I needed, what I wanted, and what I hoped for. The story flowed and I lost myself in it and before I knew it, it was over. I didn’t know how I read it so fast or where the time went but that is what I feel a book needs to do for a reader. Ensnare them so that reality becomes a figment of your imagination.

We are introduced to Alex and right from the start, we are thrown in with some action and these beasts called Daimons chasing her. From there we can see a little bit of what Alex can do but I felt there was so much more that needed to be uncovered. Alex is this snarky character who can remind you of at least one of your friends and if you do not have a friend like Alex, you are living a boring life. Alex makes mistakes but we see her grow and by the end we just want to see where she will go.

Aiden….oh Aiden. This is the guy we are hoping for. Just picture a dark brooding character, built, tall, and the guy who you dream about and that is probably what Aiden will become for you. There is so much I can tell you about him but you need to read for yourself.

I do not know what my opinion on Marcus is and how much shit he is giving Alex on whether or not she should be a sentinel or not. I am figuring I will have to wait till the next couple of books before I fully form an opinion.

I have one little irk with the book and it is just that it kind of reminded me of Vampire Academy but other than that feeling, I could not get enough of the book. I read this over the Christmas holiday and I paid more attention to reading this book than I did to my parents. So one might imagine what I thought of this book.

I am so excited to continue this series and see where it will go. I want more of the Alex and Aiden relationship, because we all know that the forbidden love is what we as readers all look for. Jennifer Armentrout has won a place in my heart and I will never think twice about passing up a book by her.

Happy Reading!