#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the world of the Lux with The Burning Shadow, the steamy, shocking second installment of the Origin series that will leave readers reeling.When Evelyn Dasher crossed paths with Luc, she was thrown headfirst into the world of the Lux–only to discover that she was already far more involved in … already far more involved in their world than she ever suspected.
Because the Luxen aren’t the only ones with a hidden past. There’s a gap in Evie’s memory, lost months of her life and a lingering sense that something happened, something she can’t remember and nobody is willing to tell her. She needs to find out the truth about who she is–and who she was. But every answer she finds only brings up more questions.
Her search for the truth brings her ever closer to Luc, the Origin at the center of it all. He’s powerful, arrogant, inhumanly beautiful, extremely dangerous…and possibly in love with her. But even as Evie falls for him, she can’t help but wonder if his attraction is to her, or to the memory of a girl who no longer exists.
And all the while, a new threat looms: reports of a flu-like, fatal virus that the government insists is being spread by Luxen. A horrifying illness that changes whoever it touches, spreading panic across a country already at its breaking point.
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Dynamic and engaging…
Let me start by saying this is my review of both The Darkest Star and The Burning Shadow. I read some of the more negative reviews of The Darkest Star and all I have to say to the naysayers is this , “Wait for it …” The Darkest Star sets the stage for what is to come as the series progresses. I read both books back to back and honestly couldn’t put them down. The Origin Series picks up some four years after the Luxen invasion and Luc is no longer a child. For all you Lux series fans that have not started the series, what are you waiting for? We all wanted to see how Luc would turn out, and boy was it ever worth the wait.
Honestly, I can’t give too much away, but here goes. Luc is as take charge as ever in a world trying to heal after the alien invasion. We soon come to realize that not everyone want’s the Luxen around. In walks Evie Dasher, literally into a club ran and operated by none other than Luc, and that’s just the beginning. As the series unfolds the readers learn that Luc made a deal with the devil for all the right reasons, but when you dance with the devil you’re liable to get burned. Secrets, lies, and ambitions are revealed to the reader if you choose to continue the series, but be warned, The Burning Shadow ends on a bit of a cliffhanger leaving the reader wanting the next book in the Origin Series. I’m going out on a limb here and making a guess as to the title of the next book in the series and predicting that it will be The Brightest Night. I could be wrong but either way, I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next installment to the series.
For you Lux fans, if you’re patient you will get a glimpse of some of your favorite characters from the original series. But make no mistake, the Origin Series is Luc and Evie’s story. If you are hoping for a continuation of Daemon and Kat’s story you will be disappointed, they are there in the background and the readers do get to catch up with them and what they are doing now but it ‘s really a background story. That being said, I hope that you will get to know Luc and Evie and take a chance on The Origin Series. Things in this universe are changing in a big way and I hope you choose to go along for the ride.
I swear Jennifer Armentrout could write about anything and I would read it and absolutely love it.
I have been dying for The Burning Shadow since finishing The Darkest Star, and it did not disappoint. It went above and beyond, actually.
We jump right back into it with Luc and Evie and though some thing’s were discovered and thought to be resolved in The Darkest Star, so many more thing’s are revealed in this book.
The shit has well and truly hit the fan to say the least lol.
“Real strength does not exist in muscles or deadly skill. It exists in your ability to pick yourself up and keep going after the shit hits the fan. That’s strength.”
I freaking love the way Jennifer writes and her humor is always on point. It’s a part of what makes her books so damn fun to read.
I mean, Luc? Luc and his hilarious jokes and his freaking T-Shirt’s had me cracking up. I love the way Evie and Luc banter back and forth.
I loved the first book, but this series, as with all her books, is just getting better and better. I couldn’t put this book down!
I didn’t want it to end.
It’s rare that a book can put me into a slump now a days, but let me tell you, as soon as I finished it I just wanted more. I caught myself thinking about and wanting to read more of these characters for days, DAYS!
Ugh, and that ending was so messed up to do to us! She did us dirty guys. Lol. But for real, I am so psyched for the next book. I am dying to know what happens, and I’m positive the second I get my hands on it, I’ll devour the story like I did with this one.
Seriously, do yourselves a favor and pick these books up! They are fantastic. So much fun, hilarious, and action packed. They will give you all the feels, and then some!
5 freaking fantastic cups of coffee!
I hate that I got so behind on reading once school started back because I was so excited to read this one! Of course once I did pick this one up, it was so hard to put down, well, other than how big the book is, so it was hard to hold for too long either! LOL!! There were so many new obstacles and things with the Luxen and Arum and Origins and even some new people/creatures/beings/secret organizations thrown in. And yeah, all four of those things, not me just trying to be random. I was also so excited when there was something that happened in the book that took place in my city of Kansas City, and I knew exactly where it was supposed to be happening! So much back story learned during this one, but also so many more questions and things we need to know! And that ending! Wow! Total cliffhanger. I still adore Luc of course, but maybe still Daemon more though. But now we need to know exactly what is happening to Evie. I will say I got a little annoyed with her whole wondering if he only loved the girl he remembered and that his feeling weren’t really for her now. Hopefully she’ll move on from that in the next book. Which, do I have to wait a whole year? Because I don’t know if I can wait! Well, my arms can, they did get a little tired holding this one in bed at night. Honestly, this size of book is exactly why e-books are sometimes better! Oh yeah, and I loved seeing the name of a former book blogger that I know is friends with the author for one of the characters.
I’m not going to lie….I read The Burning Shadow in two days. It could’ve been one sitting if my eyelids would have cooperated and not shut on me at 4am, but I digress. The first book of I ever read was her Luxen series. I fell in love with Luc there and couldn’t contain my excitement when she announced the spinoff series featuring him. Y’all I loved The Darkest Star and didn’t have the same expectations for The Burning Shadow. If it’s possible I think I loved it more than the first! Picking up almost immediately where The Darkest Star left off, The Burning Shadow is a fast-paced, paranormal romance that left me with my heart aching and my mind reeling.
Evie (or should I say Nadia?) is adjusting to her circumstances, still coping with a past that was stolen from her. She is understandably confused, drifting through her days wondering who she really is and what was done to her. Micah left her shaken. Luc provides her stability, but does he really care for her or the memory of who she was? This question plagues her and makes her doubt Luc’s motives. Then there’s her mom who isn’t her mom. Evie really struggles with who to trust, and while she wants answers, she’s also terrified to find the truth.
Luc is as adorable, freaky, and scary as he has always been. The boy is the king of corny pickup lines, and yet also the most powerful Origin, meaning that everyone answers to him. He is a know-it-all, and the question of what is going on with Evie leaves him shaken because he doesn’t have the answer. The only thing he does know is his feelings for Evie. That is the one constant in it all.
The world fears a Luxen rebellion, killing humans, but now they have bigger problems. A mysterious illness is killing people, and those that it doesn’t kill are mutating into something Luc and his fellow Luxen have never seen. These people are freakishly strong, fast, and seem to harness the power of both the Luxen and Arum. While Luc and Evie chase down answers, they must also come to terms with what has happened to her and how it affects their relationship. The romance is a subplot of this story, but it is there and oh so sweet. I love these two! Every interaction, how careful Luc is with her, and how much he loves her is evident in every touch, every word. He even made me tear up once or twice!
Overall, I loved The Burning Shadow. If you are a fan of or a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed. The book delivers a beautiful romance, filled with the excitement and thrill of a paranormal adventure.
Omg this book is EVERYTHING. I absolutely love Luc, I mean his stupid pick up lines and his crazy cool shirts are priceless. I love every time Evie (Peaches) and Luc are together. Secrets are finally revealed and what a reveal it is. I need the next book ASAP especially after that ending. Another amazing read that had me glued too my kindle.
I lost track of the amount of times I snorted with laughter while reading this book. Luc is just so…Luc. He owns who he is, and I love it. His t-shirts alone killed me. The romance in this story is incredibly sweet. Luc is a tough nut to crack, but it always makes me smile to see how he softens when he is around Evie. Obviously everything in this world is complicated, and the history between Luc and Evie is no exception. Evie struggles considerably with the ramifications everything she has learned, but she handles it like a rockstar. I found the dynamic between her and her mother especially interesting. There were some plot twists in this installment that I was not expecting, which is just how I like it, although the sad parts were rough. Now I must begrudgingly be patient until next year!
I have been provided with a review copy of The Burning Shadow through Edelweiss for an impartial review. This is the second book in the brand-new Origin series and oh my gosh I just absolutely loved getting to reenter this world. I just absolutely had so much fun getting to go along on Luc and Evelyn’s journey. I was just swept away and I just absolutely can’t get enough of this series or it’s wonderful characters. This author just has a way of drawing you in with her wonderful stories and you just can’t get enough of them. I hope there are many more wonderful stories to come in this series.
Without fail, every JLA book provides the romance, action, and humor. This book being no different. I’m still diggin’ the dystopia vibes, and the world building involved hasn’t missed a beat thus far. Lots and lots of death, which is my (probably unhealthy) guilty pleasure.
Reviewers are told to not compare books to each other, but y’all, it’s hard. Is this as good as the Lux Series? No. But is it worth the read? Yes.
I cried, I laughed, I enjoyed the amped up romance being center stage, but I feel like I’ve been here before. I’ve read all of JLA’s books, and the similarities in characters personalities, plot-pacing, and humor, is very much the same, but longer.
The problem with pacing being similar, but the book being longer, is you have to wait quite a while for the story to truly take off. But when it did, it DID.
Also, I really like the hidden message here- you know, the whole being a racist a-hole thing NOT BEING OKAY.
Solid 3.5
You know those books you cannot talk about without giving out some spoilers?…
Yes, that’s exactly how I felt after reading the advanced reader’s copy of The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L Armentrout.
All I wanted to say was – he did that, and she said this, and they they found out this, etc etc etc…
The things I can tell you:
1. Luc is just as “pompous and arrogant” as ever. And I love it! But he’s also incredibly protective and sweet with Evie, and that makes me love him ten thousand times more. I know I was a little disappointed with the depth of his character after reading The Darkest Star, so I had my worries starting the second book. You can imagine my relief when I started giggling at Luc and Evie’s cute banter.
2. There are definitely plot twists and new discoveries as the story goes. And if you are author’s fan, you know she LOVES to surprise you with everything unpredictable.
3. Sorry, but I’m 99.99 % sure your heart will break reading this book. Maybe more than once.
4. I’d say that you should definitely read this book, but the chances are you will anyway because if you read the first book, this one is so much more, and YOU NEED TO MNOW WHAT’S NEXT.
5. Oh, and you get to see some awesome characters from Lux series, wink wink.
6. Seriously, get to reading!
Advanced Readers Copy:
Title: The Burning Shadow (Origin #2)
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Publisher: Tor Teen
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 432
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Date Read: 03-09-2019 – 04-09-2019
Favorite Quote: “There is only you and me. Boyfriend. Girlfriend. Mates. Lovers. I don’t care what you call me, as long as you call me yours”
Review:
I was excited for this book. Especially with the way the first one ended! This book is everything we could ever want. Lots of action, angst, and swoon worthy moments. Be aware this book also ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger.
What is this book about:
This book begins where the first one ended. Evie or Nadia is having somewhat of an identity crisis. Who is she? She isn’t the real Evie and she doesn’t remember being Nadia. Luc is doing everything he can to help her but Evie isn’t sure he just wants her because she was Nadia, and not for who she is now.
To make matters worse things with the luxen are escalating. People are getting killed and are blaming the luxen. The government is making some questionable choices, choices that are suspiciously similar to what happened in the second world war and that are happening with the immigrant in the united states.
Thats already enough to deal with one would think. But that’s not all, strange things are happening to Evie. Things that makes everyone wonder what happened to Evie when Luc dropped her off at syliva’s What else did Jason and Sylvia do beside curing evie. How did they do it?
When the past catches up with you, there aren’t many places you can run to.
What did I love about this book:
I love the mystery and suspense of this book. Some twist I guessed early on and some I guessed a bit later and I was thrilled I got it right.
I love how dedicated Luc is to Evie. It’s hard for me to see him as a swoon worthy romantic intrest because it makes me feel like a cradle robber since we met him when he was just a kid. But he is very swoon worthy with Evie. If we didn’t meet him as a child I would have fell in love with him I think.
One thing I loved as well is that for once the roles where reversed. Luc ( the guy) being the virgin for once and not the girl ( evie)
I absolutely loved seeing Damon and the others again! I can’t wait for book 3 to come. It can’t get here soon enough
Rating:
5 amazing Stars
No lie, the Lux series by JLA is one of my favorite book series ever. When The Burning Shadow came out I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Exact same thing with The Burning Shadow. I could NOT wait! I literally devoured this book and it’s not a small one.
Luc is easily one of my favorite JLA characters. He’s so powerful, dangerous and charming all at the same time. He can literally flip for sweetheart to a complete badass in seconds. SWOON! His main objective is to keep Evie. The relationship between the two is blossoming and it has me wanting more, gah!
Evie goes through so much in this book. Her whole world is flipped upside down. Someone or something is two steps behind her the entire book. You can feel the tension just building the entire time. Everything about her past is completely gone and she’s left with hardly any memories, but they are coming back in bits and pieces. She doesn’t even know if her friends are really her friends.
The plot of this book is awesome! It had me turning the pages quickly. There is a new ‘big bad’ and I need to know more!! So many times I wanted to scoop up Evie and hug her Also, LOVE that all the characters from the Lux series are present in this book as well. Hello Daemon Black
All in all this book was amazing! If you’re thinking of starting it, make sure you have read Jennifer’s Lux series first (start with Obsidian) as well as The Darkest Star. That will bring you up to speed. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Well, you have to give credit to Jennifer for always keeping me on my toes and having my heart being torn open! WOWOWOWOW!
What happened? How did we go from a mystery about the true enemy back to a conspiracy and tragedy!? I have to admit that despite the slow pacing, the book dropped hints about everything and as Luc, Evie and gang tried to solve everything they realized that the enemy is everywhere.
I liked the second book; I can honestly admit that I never suffer from SBS (Second Book Syndrome) while reading Jennifer’s books. The romance progressed in a hot, swoony way, there was action, wild action with fighting and both winning and losing and Evie was the one who had to discover everything in the hardest way. The ending was also a cliffhanger so I guess 2020 can’t come fast enough?
If you do not remember reading The Darkest Star, you need to go back and reread before diving head first into The Burning Shadow. This ride of a tale, starts right where TDS leaves off. We are back in the kitchen with Luc and Sylvia arguing. It’s a faced paced roller coaster and Jennifer leaves us right at the top of the hill with that ending. It’s not an Opal cliffhanger but there are surprises waiting around the curve. I grow to love Luc more and more with each passing book. He really is the darkest star. His love for Evie is unparalleled. Also, he plays the freaking guitar. Is there nothing he can’t do? If you would ask him, he would say no and give you a terrible pick up line. Which by the way are hilariously scattered throughout the book. Evie is badass. There are things that she can do… is she a normal human? Or is she something completely different. I love that characters from the Lux Series come back to play in this installment. But, as always, Jennifer kills off a person or five and you are left a mess at the end (in a good way of course) waiting until she gives out any details for that next book. Pick it up and read it! Totally worth it!
Annnnnnd… Cue book hangover.
The Burning Shadow is the second installment in the Origin series, a spinoff from The Lux series. The Burning Shadow picks up immediately after The Darkest Star. When I say immediately, I mean immediately. #grilledcheesegate
What makes The Burning Shadow incredible is its action packed plot and the chemistry between the main characters.
Whenever Evie and Luc are together, the scene is taken over by their palpable chemistry. Armentrout’s writing shines here because the angst between these two characters is off the charts. While nothing too X-rated happens, it sure does feel like it. Armentrout puts on a master class in these scenes. Budding writers, pay attention!
A big theme throughout The Burning Shadow is identity. As with many young adult novels, identify issues/crisis are central to a teenager’s coming of age story. The Burning Shadow kicks this well used theme up a notch as Evie struggles to understand and deal with the information she learned in the previous novel.
The Burning Shadow is so quotable. Therefore, I will leave my favourite below.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this series!
“‘If you ask that, then maybe I wasn’t clear enough last night. There is only you and me. Boyfriend. Girlfriend. Mates. Lovers,’ he said, and muscles low in my stomach curled tight. ‘I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me yours.’”
***I received and ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
If you thought The Darkest Star was great, then you’re in for a treat with this one! The Burning Shadow starts off right where the last book ended. I mean RIGHT where it ended, so make sure you’ve read The Darkest Star before you dive into this one. 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 a standalone. Armentrout 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. Stepping back into this world is like coming home. Some of my favorite characters showed up and were just as snarky and awesome as ever. Luc is swoony as hell. It was fantastic! I devoured this book. It had everything I love mysery, swoon, and some really great twists!
Evie, is still trying to come to terms with the fact that she is not really Evie Dasher, but actually Nadia Holiday -the girl Luc loved and did everything to save in the Lux series. Nadia had cancer, and Luc made a deal that cured her using a serum with alien DNA. The kicker is she doesn’t remember her life as Nadia. Luc loves her regardless and does everything he can to ease her worries that he loves her for her not just because she was the girl he used to love. Let me just say Luc is everything I’ve come to expect from a JLA book boyfriend! I love him. He’s right up there with Daemon! Honestly swoon worthy!
You would think that the budding romance and search for Evie’s true identity would be enough to keep you sucked into the story, but there is so much more going on! There’s a life threatening disease that’s sweeping the nation and many people are blaming the Luxen. Can Luc, Evie, and their group prove that’s not the case? Will Evie learn more about her past? There were so many questions I wanted answered while I was reading, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! I could not put this book down. The mystery behind the virus and how Evie was connected kept me at the edge of my seat. Armentrout did an amazing job keeping the suspense high while also piecing everything together, and I mean EVERYTHING.
Luc and Evie were perfect together. I loved their connection and seeing how swoony Luc was. I loved the cameos of all our favorite Luxen, and have a sneaky suspicion we’ll see more of them in the next book. The Burning Shadow was fabulous from start to finish and it has me dying for the next book!
Holy alien babies and origins and burning shadows everywhere! That was another unforgettable story in this world that I don’t want to EVER leave. I grew so attached to these characters, experienced so many ups and downs with them that I feel them like they are part of my family now.
I don’t know where to start with all the emotions I experienced with this book. It was intense, it was sweet, it was romantic, it was action-packed, it was funny and also sad at places, it was full of twists and turns and gave me all the feels.
The first part of the book was a bit uneventful in terms of fights but I loved it nonetheless. I enjoyed the revelations of some long-kept truths and the slow-burning romance that was growing with each page. I fell head over heels in love with Luc’s character. Not that I wasn’t at this point but he completely stole my heart piece by small piece.
Evie was his match made in Origin heaven and his better half. They were so great together and their love grew even stronger than before. I loved these slow, sweet and very romantic moments as much as I loved the crazy action-packed ones.
After one point things started happening one after another and the story swallowed me whole. It was a real page-turner. So intense, wit lots of jaw-dropping scenes and some nail-biting ones. Absolute whirlwind of events, revelations and new developments that left me wanting for more.
I had tears in my eyes every time someone from the Lux gang made an appearance. It was so cool to have a glimpse of their lives 4 years after the craziness that was Opposition. I don’t want this story to EVER end and to leave this world and the characters I grew so attached to. Lux was the 1st I read from Jen and it’ll always have a sentimental value for me, but this spin-off story is taking it to a whole new level. It’s absolutely amazing and keeps the intrigue going the whole time.
The ending was the proverbial cherry on the cake with the super crazy fights and the new revelations but that cliffhanger! Man, how are we going to survive another year for the next one?! My head is all over the place and I want answers to all my questions. I really can’t wait to see what happens next and how this story will progress from here on.
This story starts right where The Darkest Star left off. Luc and Evie are such great characters and you get to know them even more and Luc’s charming personality, lol. I can’t recommend this series or author enough. There will be another book in the series but it will be worth the wait.
“You’re real, Evie. It doesn’t matter who you used to be or who you thought you were. You are real, and I see you.”
The highly anticipated sequel to The Darkest Star is finally here and I don’t know about you guys, but I have been anxiously waiting to get this bad boy in my hands. The Burning Shadow picks up right where The Darkest Star left off and leaves no stone unturned. Evie is still trying to come to turns with who she is and why her memories are all messed up. However, with every answer Evie gets, she is left with a million more questions and this quest for the truth only stands to bring her closer to the one and only Luc. Luc is all that and a bag of chips with the arrogance to back it all up. And while Luc may think he’s in love with Evie, Evie herself can’t help but fall for Luc. The question of what is real and what isn’t has never been more critical to Evie. And if dealing with her own crisis isn’t enough, it seems there’s more on the horizon to worry about. A new threat looms and is spreading panic far and wide. Will Evie find out the answers she so desperately needs? Will Evie, Luc and the gang be able to stop the new threat from spreading??? There’s only one way to find out….
Overall, I found this book to be a really enjoyable read. I loved getting wrapped up in the Luxen/Origin world again and seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones. This book is filled with Jennifer Armentrout’s signature humor and swoon worthy romance. It checked off all of my boxes giving me a read that is filled with romance, sarcasm, mystery, intriugue, suspense and lots of twists and turns. Yes, that is one thing I love about JLA’s writing is that her twists always knock me off my feet and just leave me begging for more.
I will say that for me, the pacing for The Burning Shadow was a bit slower than I would have liked, but that being said, the slower pace did not take away from all the action this book had and once I got into the stories groove, I could not put it down. The Burning Shadow has a lot going on in the best possible way and I loved how the author left little breadcrumbs for readers to follow along the way.
The Burning Shadow is a terrific addition to The Origin Series. It kept me on my toes and left me with a ton of questions that I am just dying to have answered. I have no clue how this story is going to play out in the end, but I can definitely tell you that I will be waiting anxiously to see where this series will take us next!
HOLY ALIEN BABIES!!!! This was a phenomenal read! I’m a diehard JLA fan and Daemon is my top BBF, but I have to say, Luc is right up there with him! This story had everything I could hope for in a read: their romance progressed in oh so swoony moments, there was tons of action, there was humor, tons of loss (which broke my heart!!!), and we see Evie progress the further along she was involved in the Lux world.
Evie was a strong lead. She took everything thrown her way in stride and very rarely broke down. If she did, she’d wait until she was alone and had a moment to just let it all out, then pulled herself back together. She was sweet, funny, kept Luc on his toes, didn’t back down from a fight, and stood for what was right, even if it put her in danger. I loved how compassionate she was towards the gang (Luc’s gang and Daemon’s gang).
Luc, oh holy hell! He was HOT in this read! He busted out the charm, the swoony moments, the love and compassion, the strength, and his protectiveness was off the charts. I always loved how he’d be this huge bada$s, but would soften where Evie was concerned. He was open and honest with his feelings, and when he said he was going to be all in, whooooo boy he wasn’t kidding!!!!
I had giddy moments while reading TBS and I had chills. This was truly a great read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released! Thank you Jen for this copy. This is my honest review.
4.5 The Burning Shadow was a wonderful Jenn book as always. It didn’t suck me in quite as much as The Darkest Star, but it was still jam packed with greatness. There was plenty of humor, action, and plot twists. I still love Luc and Evie and am always rooting for them. They’re perfect for each other and I love everything about their relationship. A lot of this book is about Evie finding her way and getting answers about her past. It was very interesting learning about her life and how things came to be about. She may not always think she is, but she’s a strong, brave girl with a big heart. What I love about Luc is that he is always there for her and tends to know what she needs and how to help her. We get a lot of questions answered and form a few more questions by the end too. I can’t wait for more in the next book of the series! *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*