Happy Book Birthday ~ Half-Blood UK edition

So love this UK cover!

Releases TODAY in the UK from Hodder & Stoughton

 

First book in the addictive Covenant series from #1 New York Times bestselling Jennifer L. Armentrout.

HALF-BLOOD is the unputdownable first book in the acclaimed Covenant series from #1 New York Times bestselling Jennifer L. Armentrout. This special paperback edition also includes the prequel novella DAIMON.

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

Buy - UK

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My Review...

The world that Jennifer creates in Half-Blood is unique in the world of angels and demons. The mixture of aether in the blood determines the class in this society. Pure bloods are full of aether (from the Gods) and have power over one of the four elements. They also had the ability to use compulsions to get others to do what they want. Pure bloods are treated almost as royalty where half-bloods are second class. They have very little aether and no power over the elements. They are faster and stronger than regular human and they can see through the magic to identify pure bloods that have been turned into daimons. Thus they are good fighters so if they are lucky they get to be trained as guards or sentinels. Otherwise they are drugged into servitude. I loved this world not only because it is unique but also because it has many compelling aspects to it. The classing of people has never worked in history so I suspect it will come back to bite this society as well. I am excited to see that happen.

The characters in the book are dynamic and real. Alex has a very strong personality. She doesn’t do well with rules yet she lives in a situation that could blow up in her face at any moment if she doesn’t follow those rules. Despite this, Alex remains a strong, reckless, and compelling. Aiden is super hot. His pure blood status keeps him off limits to Alex but that doesn’t mean she isn’t looking. He is strong, mysterious, wounded, and determined to help her. I love his fierce patience with her and his quiet manner. Caleb is the biggest supporting character and he is a great friend to Alex. At first I thought he was a love interest but it became clear quickly that he is just a very supportive friend. Seth comes into the story mid-book and is quite the mystery. There is so much about him that we don’t know yet. He is the Apollyon, a half-blood who controls all four elements and more. An incredible fighter, he is a daimons worst nightmare but he has been called back from fighting. He’s as interested as anyone why that is the case. There certainly is some strange connection between Alex and him and I love how he gets under Alex’s skin. I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from Seth.

While the ending isn’t a cliffhanger (thank heavens – can my heart take any more of those), things are far from settled. You will want the next one...the whole series actually...waiting for you when you finish!