#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the world of the Lux with this steamy, shocking third installment of the Origin series that will leave readers reeling. The hardcover edition of The Brightest Night includes a bonus short story, and the first printing will be signed by the author. He is the darkest star. She is the burning … author.
He is the darkest star.
She is the burning shadow.
And together, they will bring about the brightest night.
Less than a year ago, Evelyn Dasher was a normal girl, living a safe, rather unremarkable life–a life that was a total lie. Now she’s learned the truth about who she was and what she is.
Hidden within Zone 3, she knows that if she loses control of her dangerous abilities again, she not only puts everyone in the secret community at risk, but also the beautiful, deadly inhuman Luc. He will do anything to keep her safe. Lie. Barter. Beg. Kill.
But there are truths that not even Luc can prepare for, and as Evie’s abilities evolve, the consequences of everything he’s done turn devastating.
Luc is stepping into the darkness. But Evie might already be lost to the shadows.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
WHAT A RIDE! Wow. JLA never disappoints and this book was phenomenal! Luc was a character that was entertaining and has become one of my all time favorites. His personality is one of the funniest, kindest, badass and beautiful I’ve read in a long time. This book picks up right where The Burning Shadow ended and I felt like it kept pace with where it started and ended. I absolutely LOVED having characters from the Lux series so prominent in this story and it felt completely natural… tho I want more Dee and Archer!!!
Evie’s character changes in the best possible ways throughout this book and it was quite a journey. I loved every thought she had and was never bored as she thought through so many issues and decisions before her.
Her and Luc are such a special partnership and this book gave me everything I wanted and more!
This book is holy llama alien babies crack on a cracker good!
Rating:
Is there going to be another book?
The following ratings are out of 5:
Audio/Narration:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
The setting: Earth
The Hero: Luc – The “Origin” who did everything he could to save his girl. Luc is an awesome hero. He is arrogant, but funny, he wears silly t-shirts and makes stupid jokes. He likes Llama’s and hates Koala bears. He loves Evie more than anything in the world.
The heroine: Evie/Nadia – Evie is what is known as a Trojan. She was mutated and has the DNA of both the Luxen and Arum mixed in with her human DNA and is stronger than anyone else out there.
The Love Story: Luc and Evie have been through a lot and they go through a bunch more in this book. Though they love each other through it all. They both admit they will do anything for each other.
This was the first audio book I have listened to all the way through and I admit I kind of liked it. I could do other things while listening. I did a few puzzles while listening. The one thing I didn’t like is that it was a woman doing men’s voices when Luc, Greyson or Daemon spoke. I wish they would have at least one female and one male to do the voices of the two leads. It is a bit hard to listen to or imagine the steamy scenes when it is a woman doing a man’s voice. That is one thing I like more about reading the books.
Though the story was so good and the ending was great but it left things up in the air. So I hope there is another book. Also there was this side story about Greyson being in love with Luc and I kept thinking it would come out that he was really in love with Evie and not Luc, but that never happened. So I want more information. I want a Greyson story where he gets his own love, not someone who is in love with someone else. The ending was not and end so I do definitely need more.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Audible Review:
I loved this!! It was pretty long, but I sucked it right down. The first, not even one quarter of the book didn’t grab me. But then once it did I couldn’t stop!!! Took me less than two days to finish!!
I freaking love Luc so much!!! But we also saw many of those we came to adore in the Lux series, even Hunter and Sabrina!!! Oh yes, and somebody is having a baby.
But this book was action packed!!! I love the Origin series a smidgen more than the Lux. But I love both and how the Origin series is just a branch of the Lux.
The audible was so good. Saskia Maarleveld is such a great narrator anyway and she had a lot of different voices in this book, and I never wondered who was talking. She has such a wide range!!
“You’re giving me everything I’ve ever wanted or needed. You always have.”
This just in… I think Jennifer Armentrout is trying to kill me! Like literally rip me apart! How do you end a book like that?????? I neeeeeeddddd more!!!!!! My heart cannot take it! A whole year til the next one?!?
The Brightest Night is the 3rd book in the Origin series and this one is absolutely amazing, nay EPIC! Luc absolutely stole my heart once again with his hilarious antics and absurd pickup lines.. my favorite was the fine print one.. if you know, you know. and Evie is really coming into her powers and becoming the strong heroine we’ve been dying for her to become!
After being left hanging in the burning shadow with this “You’re the burning shadow and he’s the darkest star, and together, you will bring about the brightest night.” We’re dying to know what the brightest would be and damn… I was not disappointed, in fact it’s been 3 days and I’m still here with my jaw on the floor and my brain splattered on the wall.
Jen managed to undo things we’ve thought we knew from the og Lux series days. And as expected she brought some familiar faces, whole managing to set the world on fire in a way that only Jen can. It’s hard to explain the reasons I adore this book without spoilers but I’ll just say this The Brightest Night is definite top 3 favorite JLA book. Thank you Jennifer for blowing my mind so thoroughly.
First of all, let me say that not only did I love the story but the ending was EVERYTHING!!! Luc truly is something to fear. I’m dying for more and I’m beyond excited for the next book. It seems as if I can’t get enough of Luc and Evie. I absolutely love them! Luc is funny, sweet, protective, caring, deadly and I love him origin and all. Evie is still uncovering who she was with who she is now and there’s so much more to her than she ever knew. The story is full of sweet, steamy, funny, shocking moments, great friends and threats that you won’t see coming. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time as I listened to this story. Grayson is definitely an interesting character and I also can’t get enough of him. A little bit was revealed regarding him and I want to know more. I’m excited to see how everything plays out. I enjoyed the bonus scene with Damon at the end of the story. To be honest, I enjoy Damon, Kat and the majority of the side characters. The narrator did a fantastic job with the story and my being able to listen to the story and feel every emotion from the characters is simply amazing, so job well done to the narrator. I will definitely be recommending this series to all of my paranormal book loving friends and family. This series does not disappoint!
This is not a standalone story. It is a continuation of Luc and Evie’s story that starts in two books before this one and those books must be read first in order to fully enjoy this story.
This book brings together all of old favorites and a few HUGE surprises. It is filled with twists and turns and quite a few things I never saw coming.
Luc and Evie are perfection together and I love how they relate to each other.
The ending was quite unexpected and that end scene blew my mind. Holy alien babies!
I can’t wait to see what will come next.
I’m mindblown, speechless, shocked, confused, a bit angry, a lot terrified and so so curious and intrigued. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what I read. I pronounce JLA the master of twists and turns. Every single book she keeps my attention glued to the pages and manages to leave me with mouth hanging wide open and desire for more.
To be honest, I’m kind of horrified for the next one. What a ride though. I absolutely love this world. One may think I would get bored after a 10th book in this world, but I’m so addicted to these characters, I don’t want to ever leave this universe of Luxen, Arum, Origins, and other powerful creatures. They are like family now. I felt their pain, fought their battles, loved, cried and laughed with them. The emotions were so deep and strong, I was overwhelmed with everything happening.
Evie and Luc were just so cute together and their connection in this one really felt unbreakable. The romance was so sweet, the story so intriguing, the battles so intense. Everything fit perfectly like puzzle pieces added together to make the full picture. So well thought and captivating. There were also some very steamy scenes. Wink, wink 😉
But the proverbial cherry on the cake was the appearance of all the others from the Lux gang. All scenes they were present, made me emotional, on the verge of tears or grinning wildly. It was so awesome to be back in this world and with these characters.
That ending though. What was that ending! Still processing. I can’t wait to read more, although I have to admit I’m a bit scared.
With the above said I solemnly declare I’m addicted to Lux and Origin world. I need my next fix in this universe.
P.s Swoon Alert! Shirtless Daemon with baby Adam. My heart nearly melted at that scene.
How am I supposed to write a review when I’m speechless?
This has always been one of my favorite series by JLA. I loved Luc and Evie from the beginning. The characters and their story.
This book was, of course, a complete mind blow by the end. Throughout the entire book we’re seeing new sides to most of the characters. You see new developments with Luc and Evie, and from the very beginning are reassured of their love and devotion for one another and the lengths they’d go to to protect each other. This definitely comes to a head when an old not-so-friend comes back into the picture. If you’ve read Lux, you’ll be like “whaaaaaaaaaaat!?”
This book, to me, was major story building. While most of it was pretty intense, there were times it was quieter and just introducing us to what could potentially be their new “normal.” All the while Evie is still growing in her new abilities, like she has been doing all along. But — I didn’t find it boring at all as I was interested to see where the story was headed.
Then came the end.
I legitimately have no words to describe what I read. I know Jen does plot twists well, but this one was just RUDE with how good (?) it was. Can I say it was good? I want to be mad about it, but I can’t. I don’t even know if I’ve wrapped my head around it fully yet. Am I shocked? Am I sad? I’m not sure. What I do know is that I want to read the next book and see what plays out because I need all to be right in my Origin-loving world.
With The Brightest Night, Jennifer L. Armentrout has set us up for what is sure to be an epic finale to the Origin series, and I. Am. Here for it. Get ready for the ending, because it’s a doozy. Not a cliffhanger, IMO, but you will want more, and you will want it NOW.
Prepare your heart to make room for a new favorite book boyfriend. If Luc doesn’t come in at least the top 5 by the time you’re done, you need to make sure your heart is still beating. The Brightest Night isn’t as action-packed or as adventurous as the two books that came prior to it in this series. It takes place entirely at the Luxen refuge in Texas, and there’s only one real battle. No – this book is a book about relationships and what makes them strong. And the relationship at front and center is the one between Luc and Evie.
Our dynamic duo have gone through more together in their short lives than most couples go through in a lifetime. They has forged a seemingly unbreakable bond, and seeing that in play made my heart so happy. These two are PERFECT together. And the love the have for each other… GAH. That’s real couple goals.
What I also loved about this book was seeing the other relationships in play here. Luc is great friends with a number of people, and those are friendships borne of shared adversity and selfless help. We see a lot of those friendships in The Brightest Night and how Luc feels about them. Luc’s feelings about himself and the things he’s done and how he feels others should see him is one of the true tear jerkers in this book.
Evie is trying to make new friends since she’s lost most of her old ones. But, that’s hard for her since everyone in this town knows what she is and what she can do. That makes them scared of her and many are not willing to give her a chance. THAT made me sad for Evie. For awhile, it seems that all she has is Luc. Keep in mind, she’s an 18-year-old girl. She should be surrounded by friends. And she’s not.
If you’ve been craving more scenes with Lux favorites like Daemon, Kat, Dee, Dawson and Beth, you are in for a real treat. TBN is FULL of these characters, as well as some others from the Lux world – some expected and some unexpected. It seems like Jen is drawing all these people together for the final installment, which is yet another indication that the last book in the series is bound to be EPIC.
I dont even know where to start. My heart is a mess. My mind is a mess. When does the next book come out? What am I going to do until then?
As usual, Jennifer L Armentrout as written a masterpiece that has blown me away. There were at the minimum two epic twists and turns that I did not see coming. If they would have slapped me in the face, I probably still would of over looked them. The characters are flawed and that is what makes them so realistic and likeable. Jennifer writes a strong BA female lead. Evie/Nadia wants to stand next to Luc when there is a fight, not behind him. The empowerment is wonderful to see without it being forced. Luc is such a likeable character. He is quick witted but also someone who should not be messed with.
I will be impatiently patiently waiting for the series finale. Right now, I think I need to start the series from the beginning because that ending nearly killed me.
Shook? Lost? Empty? Shattered? Confused? Intrigued? How do I describe what I’m feeling after reading The Brightest Night?? Hmmm.. well you know those Memes and Gifs of the people staring into space after putting a book down or the ones where a person just lays down in the middle of the rain? That’s me. My emotions are everywhere after finishing this book. There are no words to say as to how I’m feeling about this AMAZING book! Holy Alien Babies Everywhere! What a book that was! First off.. Luc is my life. Like my #1 book boyfriend. Hands down. This is my favorite series (and I was so amazingly lucky to be apart of JLAs Reviewers) and Queen JLA did not disappoint with this book! It is magnificent! TBN is pretty mellow throughout the book with some crazy moments to keep you preoccupied while you wait for the climax. You learn some very helpful and interesting things throughout the beginning of the book so make sure to pay attention. Well.. you learn a lot about a lot of stuff throughout the whole book. TBN has it all! Fighting, comedy, romance, and drama to name some things. I seriously would burst out laughing from reading this book! And the romance is going to have you falling in love with the characters all over again. You’re even going to realize how much you love a character that you didn’t think you would (not saying anymore, but if you know you know). JLA throws so much at you in this book! You’re going to be thinking one thing, but NOPE! Think again. And you’re going to question everything at that point. TBN was mind-blowing! In an excellent way of course. The ending was WOW! Like what in the world just happened! It was sooooo good and such a great ending, but it will leave you needing more! I absolutely adored this book! Do yourself a favor and read it. Reading this book will make 2020 better for you! Trust me 🙂 5/5 stars!
Happy Release Day to JLA! Thank you for giving us such a wonderful book!
**I received an ARC of TBN in exchange for my honest review**
What just happened??? I have no words. Mind. Blown. Everything we thought we knew? Yea. Oh, my poor little reader heart…
The Brightest Night picks up where The Burning Shadow left off. Throughout this book, we see Evie learn more about who and what she is, as she learns to harness her power. We meet a lot of old friends in this one, and make some new ones. And there is so much delicious slow burn tension between Luc and Evie – I just love these two so much. Eh…and even Grayson grew on me in this one. (Seriously though, where does he even find all of these blow pops?)
There is a lot of (important) character development in TBN, so it reads a bit slower than some of the more action packed books in both the Lux and Origin series. There are also quote a few one off comments that I suspect hold much greater weight and insight into where this series is headed.
The Brightest Night has everything we love about a JLA book…witty banter, sarcasm, snarky comments, epic bromances, slow burning heat, alpha males, strong heroines, and a whole lot of WTF moments.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This book. Man oh man. Luc is the level of sass and wit I aspire to. Luc always has a comment or a joke and has both the weirdest and best responses to things. I love that boy. Truly I do. Daemon is a hard act to follow and really Luc is the only one who could rival him in both swoon and sass.
As great as Luc is though, I think Evie is the true star. She has come so far over these three books and I’ve loved her character growth. She is tough as nails and is a fighter. And Luc and Evie together have insane chemistry. And this is the book where their relationship really kicks into high gear. I always love that JLA gives us the angst and the buildup but then also gives us the relationship and the struggles that come along with that. She really is the Queen of swoon.
The Lux world is what introduced me to JLA years and years ago and that’s why I’m so glad it’s a world she decided to revisit. But I won’t lie, I was nervous when this series was first announced. Daemon and Kat are a lot to live up to, but each book in this series has lived up to the Lux series. They have all delivered and exceeded my expectations. I say this with a lot of my reviews, but I think it’s worth repeating… JLA delivers with all of her books but it’s her fantasy/paranormal where I think she really shines and The Brightest Night follows suit with that. It delivered and I loved every second and HEY I NEED THAT NEXT BOOK ASAP AS POSSIBLE.
n true Armentrout fashion, The Brightest Night turns everything readers thought they knew about the world and characters on its head. Origin is a slow burn novel as Armentrout takes her time exploring Evie and Luc’s relationship as well Evie’s new powers and discovering her limits.
The Brightest Night reminded me how much I love this series and the world Armentrout has created. It’s original, exciting, and feels like coming home. Seeing all the characters from the previous novels is one of the best parts of the novel because they’re not overwhelming the story. Armentrout strikes the perfect balance between bringing back old characters into a new story.
Evie and Luc’s relationship is also a slow burn. It’s a delicious combination of sizzling angst and adorable romance. Their relationship is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.
“The way you say my name like that? It’s going to kill me,” he said, his tone still that strange, power-heavy, cold one, but his words? They were all Luc as he caught my lower lip between his teeth. “You have no idea.”
The atmosphere throughout the novel is foreboding as Armentrout builds to an explosive ending. I hate the throw around the word cliff hanger, but The Brightest Night left me with my jaw on the floor. It’s one of those ending that will have you questioning everything that came become and wondering if Armentrout had this planned from the beginning.
Overall, The Brightest Night will leave you desperate for the final novel. I cannot get enough of Evie and Luc.
Book 3 for JLA is typically the table-flip one in the series and this book is no exception. SEVERAL times I yelled and scared my family. No regrets though.
Oh, Luc. LUC. I have the worst hate/love addiction to you! And Evie… you poor sweet thing. Grayson? I loathe loving you so much.
Katy… Daemon… the gang’s all here and post-apocalypse Houston is everything I could want as this story continues on. I am really glad this isn’t the end but OMG book 4 is going to be intense if there’s only one left to wrap all this up.
Huge JLA fan, 10/10 would read about a dozen times.
Absolutely amazing! Loved revisiting the Origin Universe and this book only adds to the amazing Origin world. Fast- paced, adrenaline inducing page after page of awesomeness; you HAVE to read this book (but maybe start with the first book in the series so you’re not lost, k?)! Love, love, loved reading of Evelyn and Luc and can’t wait for the next book!
Holy Alien Babies Everywhere!
I know I’ve said it before but it bears repeating… LUC IS EVERYTHING! I love him!
Now I know y’all are tired of hearing me say this but it holds true again…The Origin Series is a spinoff and can be read as its own series. JLA does an amazing job recapping and bringing you into the Lux universe, but I’m telling you it’s SO MUCH BETTER when you’ve read The Lux series first.
This book blew me away. The Brightest Night is the third installment of the Origin series and picks up RIGHT where the previous book ended; with Luc and Evie learning that Jason Dasher was alive, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to trying to learn and control Evie’s abilities, they discover that Deadalus has had a hand in so many aspects of their lives.
With this book JLA proves that she is the queen of plot twists. Everything you thought you knew is going to be questioned…and don’t even get me started on the ending!
I loved that we got to see the luxen, human, arum community that has formed since the luxen invasion. I love that so many characters that I love from the Lux Series were present. And Luc! Y’all he is so damn swoony and we get to see even more of that side in this book.
Stepping back into this world is like coming home. I love The Lux Series and I love this series even more. The Brightest Night is romantic, funny, and thrilling in all the best ways. I’m absolutely DYING for the next book.
What have you done to my heart!? I’m in love with Luc, it’s not a contest. This man is more swoony than almost anyone out there. The lengths he is willing to go to for Evie/Nadia show no bounds. He will do anything to make sure she is protected, no matter what. His pick up lines, jokes and love of llamas are ever present, but you can see an even bigger sadness that hasn’t been present in the other books. Luc is deeper than we all imagined. He has to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. Literally.
Evie has more visions and is starting to learn more about who she was and how she was made into what she is today. It’s just so heartbreaking to see her go through all the things she is experiencing after all she went through already. Luc is so strong for her, but she is realizing that she needs to be strong for him too. The fact they love each other so much gives me so much hope that it will all be ok in the end. BUT THAT ENDING! What the heck!!? My sweet Luc!
Seeing Daemon and Kat with the new baby also melted my heart. There were so many old characters that popped into this book, I adored it. It was like a family reunion of sorts. Thank you to Jennifer, Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy of this book!
“If you were letters on a page, you’d be the fine print.”
“When am I supposed to thank you, Luc?” “When I do something worth thanking me for.”
“You’re the burning shadow and he’s the darkest star, and together, you will bring about the darkest night.”
Another thrilling and exciting installment of the Origin Series!
The Brightest Night picks up right where The Burning Shadow left off and kept me on the edge of my seat right until the very end. When we meet up with Evelyn, she’s on the run and under the protection of Luc. Trust doesn’t come easy to Evelyn, as those who were the closest have betrayed her in the past. Her memories may have been gone, but they are certainly not forgotten. Truths that were once hidden will be revealed and have devastating consequences. Forget everything you thought you knew and hold on because The Brightest Night is sure to take readers on one wild ride…
The Brightest Night was everything that I was hoping it would be. It picked up right where the last book left off and had me hooked from the very first page. There is so much I want to say right now, but I absolutely can’t! So, I’ll leave you with this. The Brightest Night is thrilling and exciting. There are dangers around every corner. There are some achingly beautiful moments and a romance that is sure to make readers swoon. Truths will be revealed and the floor will be ripped out from you. I can tell you this, I was in no way prepared for the last 10% or so of this book. I thought I was on the right track and knew how the story was going to play out and let me tell you, I was dead wrong. This was a twist and turn I didn’t see coming. Everything I thought I knew was gone in a snap of a finger and know I’m sitting here dying to know what in the world is going to happen next!
Jennifer Armentrout has once again blown me away with her incredible writing and story-telling. She gave me a story filled with so many emotions and unexpected turns and I loved every single second of it. The Brightest Night was a terrific read from beginning to end and I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next installment of the Origin Serie
Wowowowowow. This book had me in my feelings. I’ll admit, it took me a little bit to get into it at first. The beginning was a little slower paced than I anticipated. But that ending?!?! OMG! I am not okay. I’m mad at Evie, Daemon and Grayson. The fact that so much of what was going on the book is so relatable to what is going on in the world today was a little eerie. I’m not even sure how to write this review without giving anything away. Jennifer is very talented at ripping out your heart, piecing it back together only to turn around and do it all over again! All I know is, JLA usually doesn’t do us dirty and hope she holds true to form with the last book of the series. I don’t know how I will make it through the next year waiting for it. I guess I’ll just sit over with my feelings until then.