It's been four years since the Luxen invasion. At seventeen years old, Evie Dasher has vague terror-filled memories of hiding from the alien invaders and having her whole life turned upside down. Now that she's a senior in high school, life is getting back to normal. TV shows are back on the air, hamburgers are back on the menu, and the remaining Luxen are registered with the state, wearing Disabler bracelets to inhibit their powers. 

When Evie sneaks into a nightclub called Foretoken, she runs into a gorgeous, violet-eyed alpha male named Luc who seems, strangely, to already know things about her. When a raid shuts down the night club, they end up trapped in a closet together and develop a love-hate connection that simultaneously repels and attracts Evie. When Evie goes back the next day to retrieve her cell phone, she realizes that Luc is not going to disappear from her life. At the same time, two girls from Evie's high school disappear, and rumors surface that rogue Luxen are going on a killing spree. At first, Evie is positive that Luc is one of these light-filled aliens, but could it be that he is something else entirely?

This book is apparently a spin-off of Armentrout's earlier series called Lux that I have not yet read, but I was able to follow the plot fairly easily. The pacing dragged in parts, and Evie's character had the ability to be mind-numbingly annoying in places (cf. Bella Swan). Many of the romantic scenes, in fact, were Twilight-esque and more sexual than I would have expected in a young adult novel (but maybe I'm stuck in the last decade...). Luc gives off the same vibe as Edward with his constant surveillance, disregard for Evie's wishes, lightning fast reflexes, and glowing skin. The world-building, however, was well-excuted, and the dialogue was clever in many parts. I think I would have enjoyed this novel more as an adult science fiction storyline instead of having it crammed with the typical young adult tropes, but it did capture my interest enough to want to know what happens next!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In the first installment of the highly anticipated spin off of the Lux Series, we are once again thrust into the exciting and enthralling world of the Luxen. Taking place four years after the events of the Lux Series, our story follows seventeen year old Evelyn 'Evie' Dasher as she accompanies her best friend to the illustrious Foretoken club - a club known to welcome both humans and aliens. What starts off as harmless teenage girl fun soon turns to chaos as Evie is suddenly thrust into the very complicated and complex world of aliens she's only heard and seen horrors about. And things get even more crazy when she meets Luc - a mysteriously gorgeous guy who is clearly not human and who seems to know things about her. Almost like he knows her personally. Which is crazy because she's never met or seen him before this night....right? She doesn't know it yet, but Evie is in for a wild ride.

HOLY ALIEN BABIES! This book was so insane. I don't even know where to start with this review because my head is still reeling after those last couple chapters. I guess I'll start with saying that I loved this book. A lot. I was a little worried because you never know with spin off series if it'll live up to the original. Especially if said series is an ultimate favorite of yours, which the Lux Series is for me. Thankfully, I feel like The Darkest Star delivered a flawlessly executed plot that kept me on my toes until the very last page. I'm serious, the mysteries in this book are crazy and when you finally get the answers you've been itching for...your mind will be BLOWN.

Now on to other stuff I enjoyed besides the plot. I can't not write this review without discussing the characters. Our main players, Evie and Luc were simply fantastic. Of course, if you read the Lux Series you're already familiar with Luc and you most likely are already half in love with him. Well, hold your horses ladies and gents because that love is going to multiply by like a million. I loved reading about Luc through Evie's eyes. He was more mysterious than I remember him being, but it made me want to keep reading to figure out why he was always being so evasive. On the flip side, when he was being upfront and just his normal Luc self, he was so full of awesome. He made me laugh, made me swoon, and broke my heart a time or two (I really wanted to hug him.) Then there's Evie. She was a solid main character. Pretty much the standard JLA protagonist. Likable, strong, and doesn't take crap from boys with messy hair and mesmerizing eyes. Evie was great and with Luc she was just spectacular. I loved all their scenes together and I'll admit maybe I rushed through some scenes in order to get back to reading about them again (hehe). But I couldn't help myself. Their banter and chemistry was just on point. I was rooting for them from the first moment they met.

Besides Luc and Evie, I also loved all the new characters we get introduced to this time around. Some of my standout favorites are definitely Grayson, Kent, Heidi, and Zoe. I think readers will really take a liking to all of them. They just made me laugh so much and seemed like great friends that I would love to have myself. It was also so much fun seeing some familiar faces again from the Lux Series, like Daemon and Archer! I liked how they were incorporated into the story and I really hope we see more Lux characters throughout this new series.

The last topic I want to touch upon that I enjoyed from this story is how the state of the world in this book resonates with what is going on in America today. Being that the public now knows that aliens do exist, the Luxen are being treated like second class citizens. Because of the actions of some of their kind the government and some of the public believe that they're dangerous and precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of humans. Luxens are basically being shunned and called murders. And it doesn't matter how good or kind most of them are, some people just assume they're all the same. Just because they're different. Just because they're not from here. It's scary how real this felt because we are seeing stuff like this in the news pretty much daily. I know JLA said it wasn't intentional on her part, but I'm glad that this ended up happening. It gave the story a more realistic feel, like we could actually be living in the book right now. I thought it was pretty genius.

So, that's it folks. Those were all my thoughts and feelings on this brand new adventure Jennifer L. Armentrout will be taking us on. I highly recommend reading this one! Especially if you love the Lux Series. You'll be glad you picked this up. Once you're done, I can assure you you'll definitely want more. I, for one, am very excited to see where this story is headed because I honestly can't even guess. It's going to be torture waiting for the next book. Don't know if I'll make it, but I'm going to try.

I received a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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I will totally be doing a spoiler Book Talk of this book as well once it's officially released but I loved it so much that I just have to talk about it now and release my pent up fangirl craziness. The Darkest Star is the first book in the Origin series and is a spin-off to the much beloved Lux series. The Darkest Star is officially released on the 31st October so you have plenty of time to catch up on these books. No excuses!!
Right... this is gonna be hard not to talk about spoilers but I'll push through it so be prepared for very vague opinions and a lot incoherent fangirling over Jennifer L. Armentrout. There's just something about JLA's books that turns me into a squealing, hand-flapping... seal, apparently.
If you've been on my blog for any period of time, you'll know that Jennifer L. Armentrout is my ultimate favourite author and has been for many many years. Every word I read of her books is flawless and I'm always seconds away from creating a religion around her work and claiming her the Goddess of Writing. If you like books with epic action, swoon-worthy romance and effortless humour that has you grinning through every page, please for the love of the Gods, pick up a JLA book. Trust me, you won't regret it.
As soon as I picked up The Darkest Star, I was in love... I'm that easily pleased. When reading JLA books, I get sort of giddy and giggly and this book was no different. I had this stupidly wide grin on my face and was giggling like an idiot whenever someone I knew was mentioned. Because this is a spin-off of the Lux series, there are a few nods to those books and characters and I lived for them!!

Full review:https://forever-fictional.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-darkest-star-jennifer-l-armentrout.html

OMG I could not put this book down! I've been anticipating this book for so long that I was practically salivating when it showed up on my kindle!! My imagination carried me away, back into the world of the Luxen as my eyes tore across the pages reading the story of Luc and Evie. Heart beating wildly, breath caught in silent gasps, hopeful whispers and desperate pleas...I was swept away. This is the story I had waited for. And I hope there is more to come from Luc and Evie. I hope we get to see more from this world.

The Darkest Star is classic JLA. If you have never read a book by Jennifer L. Armentrout then let me inform you on the necessary components: quirky characters, snark, banter, tons of humor, and a sarcastically swoon-worthy love interest.

While this is a companion novel set in the same world as her Lux series, you do not need to have read the series in order to understand and enjoy this book. However, that being said, JLA does sprinkle some Easter eggs for fans of the Lux series throughout the book.

Plot
This book takes place present day in our world except for the fact that there are also Luxen, extraterrestrials, living amongst the humans. When this book starts, it’s been four years since the failed Luxen invasion. In the past four years, America has taken its time to induct new laws and restrictions for the Luxen. Sadly, no matter how many nice Luxen are out there the humans continue to cling to their fears and prejudices.

Evie, our main character, is just trying to enjoy her senior year of high school. But one night at Foretoken, an infamous club known for being a Luxen hangout, forever alters Evie’s life. At Foretoken, Evie meets Luc, a mysterious, hot, snarky guy. However, before she can figure out whether he is, in fact, a Luxen the club is raided.

From there, things escalate immensely. A human girl who was at the club is now missing and everyone is worried. Most of the humans believe a Luxen took her which only fuels the anti-Luxen fire at school and in the rest of the town. Then, before Evie knows it she is drawn further and further into the world of the Luxen. The more time she spends with Luc the more she realizes there is so much she does not know...and so much has been kept hidden from her.

Pacing
In my opinion, it took a good while for the plot to get going. The story started off great yet it tapered off once Evie goes back to school. In my opinion, there seemed to be a bit too many school scenes that didn’t feel pertinent or essential in moving the story along. However, the story does pick up around chapter 16 (page 169)!

Themes
JLA does a fantastic job of showcasing racism and prejudice. In particular, there is a scene where Evie realizes that her silence is just as bad as those spewing their hate and fear of the Luxen. I think this was such an important scene for people to read especially with how the climate is right now in society.

Overall
In the end, I truly did enjoy this book! It was a light, fun, entertaining read. You’ll find yourself constantly smiling and laughing while you read this book. I definitely recommend it to all readers. You do not have to be a sci-fi lover in order to enjoy this book! I am looking forward to the next installment in this series! JLA never lets me down.

So happy we finally got Luc's book! And oh boy was it crazy!!! First off, in the beginning of the book I'm reading and little stuff here and there made me come up with a theory about what was going on. And as I am trying to make sense of that said theory, I was also trying to figure out another part of the book that kept coming off as vague. So got two theories going on in my mind, then at one point I was like huh, could this be real answer? But no, that doesn't make sense. Or does it?? Sound crazy? It is. And for everyone who read the previous books, I assure you, you will be doing the same!!! And I can't say it because it is a HUGE spoiler!!! And no one likes those.

But what I can say. This book was awesome. Plot twists on plot twists. Familiar faces returned and new ones introduced. It is 4 years after the Lux series ended and the world has changed. Evie witnesses the fear and discrimination of Luxen that keeps getting worse. Especially when some girls in her high school disappear. Then when she comes across Luc in the club where Luxen and humans tend to mingle, everything in her world shifts. Their story is great and though you will have lots of questions (and come up with your own theories as you are reading), a lot is answered by the end of the book. And I cannot wait for more!! This was only the beginning.


I received an ARC for an honest review.

The Darkest Star, I am afraid to say, is possible my favorite book from Armentrout as of yet!! I loved this book, and it almost feels like I'm cheating on Katy and Damon :( But Luc has always had a era of mystery surrounding him so it was very nice to see more into his life and it was a great push and pull between him and Evie. I can't wait to read more in this series, I think it may be even better than the Luxen books.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

6 Stars!!!

Holy Wow!
I never thought there would be a chance that I could like a character more than Daemon when it came to Luxen but nope, I have changed my mind. Luc is absolutely everything!!! I would be lying if I said that I liked him in the LUX series. I honestly didn't think much about him, I mean he was just a kid after all.

But HOLY Origin! I LOVED this book! I am already hoping and praying that Jenn will write more books in this series that follow Luc and Evie. I loved every single word. Reading turned into my main priority until the last page. This book is definitely a Top Favorite, and one that I would recommend anytime. Just sitting here thinking about what I can say to describe the book and hoping that I don't sound like some love struck girl makes me want to open my kindle back up and read it all over again.

"I would do it again, because the only other option would be that you wouldn't be standing in front of me."


Luc isn't only powerful. Luc is so much more than that and the one thing you come to discover is he will ALWAYS protect was he loves.


It's been 4 years since the Luxen invaded, 4 years since the world learned of Aliens. Evie doesn't remember much about her life before the invasion, but she knows her friends, her mom, and school are her life. Everything in Evie's life is about to change though, one decision to make a trip in Foretoken with her friend changes everything that she knows. Secrets come out, feelings begin to stir in her in that she isn't sure she can ignore, and more than anything she suddenly wants answers. There is only person who she can get those answers from though, Luc. Evie doesn't want to like him, or to trust him but yet she does. There is just something there that always leaves her feeling safe and sure when Luc is around.


"Most people are capable of doing horrible things or looking away from them while they're doing amazing things. People aren't one-dimensional."

To finish my review, I'll leave it with this. I loved this book so much, it was truly phenomenal. Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers yet again a phenomenal story for us to dive into and get lost. I would recommend this book over and over, & hope that everyone else enjoys it as much as I have. I know I will most certainly be reading Luc's story again down the road.


**ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley for an honest review**

I was a fan of the Lux series, and the first book got me through days of know power in my home. I have to admit that Luc annoyed me in that series, but he grew on me in this one. Evie was a strong heroine who could do a lot of things for herself. I look forward to future novels in this spin-off series.

OMGGGGG I missed this world and these characters! I loved Luc and I am so happy to follow his story! I missed him so much! I wish we got more of Katy but I hope in the future we get more of her! I miss her so much but I loved the mention we got! And we found out more about Paris which was so cute because I liked seeing his relationship in the Lux series and I like hearing more about him. Cannot wait to read the next book in the future! This was very action packed and I cannot wait to get more from these characters! Also Evie kicks butt! I want her and Katy to meet! I think they're going to kick butt and take names together! Review on my blog will go live on release day!

So I will start this off by making a confession. While I had read other series' by Jannifere Armentrout, I hadn't read any of the Lux books. Seeing it was the first in a new series, I assumed (incorrectly so) that it would have nothing to do with anything. Alas I was wrong and for the first 1/3 I was pulling Gandalf entering Moria type faces as references which should have been obvious were completely missed. After having a chat to an Armentrout fan who gave me a rundown on the entirity of the series of which this is a spinoff, I found myself enjoying it significantly more.

The novel had an interesting narrative however I felt that the timing of the whole thing was a little off - the first 30%ish dragged in its establishment of events while the final 30% was just twist after twist causing it to feel a little rushed.

I enjoyed the characters involved, feeling that Evie was well thought out with her final plotline being one which I felt I should have seen coming but alas I didn't. Luc's arc was interesting (once I finally worked out who he was with the help of a friend) but I wished there had have been more character building - this could possibly have been established in the Lux series but I am unsure as I have not read them as yet.

Utlising events from both character's pasts could have felt tedious, however it instead felt as though past events were utilised in order to explain secondary characters presence rather than to simply increase word count.

I did feel the language used in some portions of the narrative were a little juvenile but this can be explained away as it being a YA novel and endeavouring to get into the head of a teenage girl.

Overall I found the novel enjoyable however i feel I may have enjoyed it more had I read the Lux series prior.

I was so happy when I got the notice that I was gonna be able to read this early. But I was also apprehensive because I was so afraid that I wouldn’t like it. And I would have been so upset with myself if I had. I’m a Armentrout fan from way back. Daemon is my first book boyfriend so I was not sure how she could made another hero better than him. But she did! Luc was amazing!

I went into this book blind because I had read some of the original series but not all. However, that did not stop me from consuming this book in two days. I thought that for a sci-fi book, the characters were extremely relatable. I LOVED Evie because she was so sassy and gave Luc as good as she got.

The romance was center stage in this book but the mystery following Evie was interesting as well. Yes it was a little expected but it did not deter me from enjoying the book when I figured the mystery out. I think what I enjoyed most was the character interactions. The cast of characters made me hang on every word. Ms. Armentrout knows how to write YA paranormal romance and this book is another stellar example of that! This is my favorite book of 2018, in fact. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

I'm a big, big fan of this author and I've read pretty much all her books and loved them! I was really excited about this book that it was my most anticipated book this year, so when I saw it on Netgalley, I immediately requested a copy! It did take a while for my request to be accepted, but I squealed once it did and made this book my next read! After reading, I can say that I loved this book a lot and it was so much fun to be back in the world of the Luxen and Origins! The plot of this book also kept me hooked and desperate to read on and find out what was going to happen next! There was also a big plot twist that I didn't see coming! This had a big impact on the plot and added a lot to it! There was also plenty of romance in this book between the two main characters as well! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Evie was the main character, and in this book she was just a normal girl that went to school and loved taking pictures! Things then quickly changed for Evie and she learned secrets about her parents and about herself! Evie did go through a lot in this book and she tried her best to handle it all! My heart also went out to her because she did find out a lot of things! I also connected with Evie all the way through this book and loved her as a character! Luc was the love interest of Evie and he was a character in the Lux series, so I was excited to read his story! I loved Luc in this book! He was seriously hot and quite cocky lol! There was also something about Luc that was very mysterious! He did hold his cards close to his chest, but he then told Evie his story and it was such a heart-breaking one and helped me understand him more! Luc was also very powerful, but he had control of his powers and only used them when needed! Luc was also very protective of Evie and it was easy to see that he had feelings for her! This book was only written from Evie's point of view, which didn't surprise me a lot because the synopsis kind of gives the impression that it's only going to be written from her point of view! I was still able to connect with all the other characters and it helped with the mystery element! I did love this book only being written from Evie's point of view, but I wouldn't have minded a few chapters to have been written from Luc's point of view too! I also loved that characters from the Lux series made appearances in this book because it was fun to read about them again! I now can't wait to read the next book in this series! I can't find any information on the next book or when it's going to be released, but I'm assuming that it'll probably be a year long wait for it! Maybe not though because her Lux series didn't have year long waits between each book, but I can't wait to read it regardless! The cover for this book is also stunning! It really suits the book and makes more sense after you read it!

This was...fine. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. Maybe if I was a more hardcore Lux series fan I would have loved it, I don't know. I read those books a long time ago and the details are kinda fuzzy. Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing style is always a bit hit or miss for me, so I'm not too surprised that I wasn't completely blown away by this one. Luc made me a little too uncomfortable for me to really, 100% root for the romance. I thought he'd grown on me and we'd understand his aggressive, overbearing behavior, but that never really happened for me. I liked Evie for the most part. I did keep reading to figure out what was going on, but I thought the mysterious elements of the story were needlessly drawn out a bit too long. The middle felt very slow and the ending felt rather rushed.

Overall this was an entertaining way to spend a few hours, but not my favorite book. I think fans of the Lux series will really enjoy it, and in my opinion it's always fun get something fresh added to a series you've loved for a long time.

Full disclosure but I never completed JLA's Lux series. However, I was craving a paranormal YA book and thought that The Darkest Star might give me that fix that I wanted so badly. I was right. The Darkest Star was not by any means a life-changing read, but it was entertaining and had a cast that I liked.

A few years after the alien invasion that nearly decimated humanity, Evie, and her friends are living a relatively peaceful life. When she meets Luc at a club where the alien-beings, the Luxen, are free to hang out, her life's course changes for good. The thing about Armentrout's characters is that they are all the exact same copy of each other, just put in a different setting. I reckon that readers will see a lot of similarities between Katy, Alex, and Evie. That being said, I actually enjoyed Evie's character. She was a normal girl, trying to go on with her life, doing normal teenage girl things. She was snarky, sassy, and not afraid to get to the bottom of the truth. Of course, there were times when her decisions seemed quite questionable but she was a teenager after all and those moments were understandable, in my opinion. Evie's life went through quite the upheaval in The Darkest Star as she discovered truths and secrets about her past and herself, and I thought her handling of those revelations with fear and anger were realistic. She met a good love interest in Luc. He was a typical Armentrout hero and had that mysterious and cocky thing going for him. Luc should have annoyed me but I found myself eating up his antics with a grin. I will say that there were times I wanted to slap some senses into him for acting a little creepy when it came to Evie. It made sense why he was doing them as he was trying to protect Evie, but I'm an old lady so I'm supposed to frown at all the sketchy things fictional teen boys pull.

Luc and Evie's dynamics were a lot of fun to read about. Armentrout knows how to play the banter between her couples like a pro. The back-and-forth between these two was entertaining and the chemistry and tension, a strong presence throughout the book. I would have liked for a few more swoony moments, but the scenes that were in this book were A+. Plot-wise, I thought The Darkest Star was decent. There was a mystery to be solved with dead bodies of teens showing up after Luc's club raid and that kept me buried in the story. The Darkest Star did have some pacing issues with the middle chunk of the book being a bit slower than I would have liked. Still though, despite some of the minor issues, there was an enjoyable quality to the book that made it very easy to read. For those of you that are worried about picking up this spin-off without reading the Lux books, I wouldn't fret too much. Armentrout recapped the world here through moments that at times felt like info-dumps but were also necessary for new readers. I was also particularly happy that the book ended with a solid non-cliffhanger ending with just enough loose ends to make me want to pick up the sequel.

If you, like me, have been missing some of the YA paranormal books of 2011-2012, then The Darkest Star is just the book for you. Sometimes, everybody needs a fun read and for me, The Darkest Star was that story.

I absolutely adore Jennifer L Armentrout and to date I have read everything that she has written and I haven't ever been disappointed, The Darkest Star was definitely no exception.

The Origin series is a spin-off to the fabulously awesome Lux series which I highly recommend reading prior as information in this book follows the aftermath of what happened in those books.

Our MC is Evie Dashner, 17-years-old & an only child after losing her father during the alien invasion four years prior. She was a wonderfully snarky, fun-loving and sweet character that didn't expect to be drawn into a world full of secrets which all seemed to start when she sneaked in to a notorious club frequented by Luxen which is raided on this night, this is where she first meets Luc and their first encounter had me intrigued.

We first met powerful Luc in the Lux series, he was a mystery and I was always curious to learn more about him so I am so pleased that this is his series and we get to know him on a deeper level. To be honest I am a huge fan of all of JLA's characters but Luc melted my heart! his backstory is interesting and I loved finding out why he is the way he is.

The world-building was strong but as with all first books in a series there are still many questions left unanswered, we learn about the aftermath of the alien invasion which nearly conquered humanity, we also see the divide and conflict now between the humans and luxen.

There were many twists and turns which I thoroughly enjoyed, the characters were all written to perfection and I can't wait to learn more about them in the next books.

The romantic aspect had me swooning! JLA writes the best interactions, a combination of sweet, snarky and mysterious with amazing banter. I am looking forward to hopefully seeing things progress between Luc and Evie.

JLA can do no wrong, beautifully written with incredible character development, a wonderfully engaging plot and promising world-building, I am so excited to read the next book in the series.

Thank you kindly to Macmillan-TOR / Forge via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review The Darkest Star.

I have been craving a book like this for a long time and so this is one wild ride I'm so glad I had the opportunity to take. Aliens and action! Suspense and swoon! This book had a little bit of everything, and I think this is just the tip of the iceberg!

I loved the smart and sparky chemistry between Evie and Luc. I loved how (surprisingly) often this book made me smile, even as my mind raced to figure out what was going on, and my heart braced for the inevitable conflict. It's written in such a relatable way - the language and mannerisms of the characters felt so authentic, even as we're presented a world where aliens and humans cohabitate (and not always peacefully). It was a fun, interesting, and exciting read -- and one I think will appeal to young adults and adults alike.

As with the start of any new series, there's a lot of information packed into this book and it sometimes felt like a lot. That said, I didn't feel like it was unnecessarily long or drawn out. There's just a lot going on here, and there are a lot of necessary characters (who come with necessary information). The payoff is huge, and I found myself turning pages with more and more urgency as the book went on. It's a thrilling, exciting, and ultimately rewarding story. It left me with more questions than it answers which ultimately just means I am now left anxiously awaiting more from where this came from!

For those who have not read the Lux series - no worries! I am not caught up on that series, but I had not trouble keeping up with this one. Some references are made and some familiar faces are seen here, but overall this story stands well on its own and will not disappoint.

I actually haven't read Armentrout's other books about the Lux, I was purely drawn to this ARC by the description of the story. I didn't feel like I was missing out on information either, which was a plus.
It's a great story! It drew me in right away and kept my interest the entire time. There were plot points that I figured out well before they were introduced but that didn't make the story any less interesting. I loved the "aliens" and humans alike and look forward to reading more about them (and, of course, going back and reading the other books!)

You had me at tacos!

Talk about a fun, frenetic read! I finished the story wanting to dive into the next book. While being a typical girl-meets-possible-alien sort of YA story, it’s not that at all. Behind the wit and the fun, some serious social issues rear their heads. But to start: The Darkest Star has a true-to-life teenager vibe. Everyone knows that teens have a voice all their own and too many authors translate that into unlikeable snark. Not so for Jennifer L. Armentrout; her teens are funny, vibrant, likeable, and imminently relatable. Indeed, her heroine has a voice so self-analytical that it almost breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions. From the moment she starts talking, Evie hits it home with unexpected commentary, such as “…she was eyeing Heidi like I eyed tacos on most days. That was what I wanted at some point in my life, for someone to look at me like I looked at tacos.” And “That made me feel a little better, knowing I hadn’t been kissed by a killer alien from outer space. It was the small things that made one’s crappy life choices easier to deal with.” When you hit Evie’s comments in situ, they really pop. Just make sure you aren’t drinking anything you can snort out your nose!

As the story starts, Evie allows herself to be talked into visiting a club using fake IDs by a bestie and that’s when things really start to get strange for her and our mystery is off and running. There are plenty of aliens and hot guys at this club, but Evie’s caught up in a raid even as she meets an enigmatic stranger who seems to know more about her than just her real name. Why do people seem to know her? Who is killing girls that look like her? Who is Luc?

The Darkest Star is not your typical YA scifi romance; it’s elevated by nuanced writing, believable characterization, and unique world-building. Behind the teenage romance and mystery, there’s commentary on police states, racism, loyalty, family, and what it means to be human, all woven expertly into an enjoyable story that entertains mightily, even while it opens the door for some really deep conversations. The characters aren’t perfect and their flaws are believable. Major storylines are wrapped up satisfactorily, with no irritating cliffhangers.


From comments that I’ve seen, The Darkest Star takes place in a world that the author has already written books about; I’ll have to take their word for it. That said, I haven’t read any other books by this author and am not familiar with any of the characters. This book is quite able to stand alone with nothing detracted. I will, however, be seeking out the author’s other books because I enjoyed this one so completely.

Highly recommended. I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

When I heard one of my favorite side characters ever, Luc, was getting a spinoff series I was so freaking ecstatic. He was just so weirdly awesome in the Lux series.

As with any Armentrout book, there was incredible angst, swoon, and action. But what I loved here was the story. There were some great twists. One I knew super early on, and I was so excited about it! 

Luc is seriously the best character. His shirts are awesome, his attitude is awesome, and his fight for things he loves is awesome! There were moments where I wanted to shake Evie, but I understood a lot of her feelings and why. Also we get to see some characters from the Lux series!!

The ending was perfect. It isn't a cliffhanger, but there are still questions that I can't wait to be answered in book 2! I'm seriously fangirling over this one!!