• Totally Wicked Read
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Wicked Book Cover Wicked
Wicked
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Fantasy
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Nov. 4, 2014
404

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans. Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart. Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her. But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

Strong Girl; Hot Guy; Big Drama:

Wicked Good Times.

I have had Wicked in my TBR for a while now.  I bought it, on a whim, while it was on sale a while back.  Maybe it’s my daughter is a “Wicked: the Musical” fan, or maybe it was because I really like the nose of the male cover model (don’t judge me), but I one-clicked.

And then I did nothing further.

It sat, sullen and lonely, on my virtual shelf, wishing someone would crack the cyber-cover, but like the ADD nymph I can be, I just never made it back around to poor Ivy and Ren.  As a card-carrying member of JLAnders, Jen Armentrout‘s band of street team supporters and aficionados, it was my dirty little secret. Sure, I could pick the cover out in a lineup ( I mean, it is super pretty), but when people started talking fae princes and such, I was clueless.

A few weeks ago, I got an email reminder that Torn (the sequel) was coming, and I suddenly realized I probably needed to read this book, but still it didn’t get my attention.  However, as I hopped in my car to head to Utopiacon (stay tuned for a full recap on that and some amazing giveaways!), I took the plunge! (See what I did there? Because they are in water on the cover??? No? OK Nevermind lol)

Anyway… I am so happy to have finally found my way into this series.  Though JLA started it in 2014, it hasn’t had another book since due to her intense writing schedule.  I really hope she can put some time to continuing this further as the characters are wonderful.  This is NOT a YA book – definitely NA – but the sex isn’t overly graphic so it’s probably cool for your older teen.  It’s definitely less risque than ACOMAF, but I don’t mind some sizzle in my story 😉

The progression in this book has many strong elements including a hot couple, a strong female lead, and some comedic relief from a brownie named Tink.  Ren, our dashing bad boy of the Elite, is all the things our mothers hope we find in a man.  He is honorable, kind and loyal – and the fact that he’s smoking hot doesn’t hurt either.  Ivy is self-sufficient and I love that in a world where education and futuremindedness (is that a word?) aren’t prized, she embraces them. Though I definitely got frustrated with her behavior more than once, I know sometimes the flawed arc helps the character develop.

I truly hope that is the case for this girl, because she and Ren could be something amazing if she gets her act together.

Ms. Armentrout sets us up for serious friction and drama in Torn, with a definite cliffhanger that can go one of many directions.  Though I’m not a huge fan of the hanger, I think in this case, she left off in a logical spot and I can cope with it. It’s not a “gun to the head” sort of cliff – just a long…way…down.

While I can’t wait for more of “Renald”, I really want to know the back stories of Ivy and Val, which I think we’ll get at least partially in Torn.

At least I hope.

My only question for Jen – though I know the word “wicked” is mentioned, I really didn’t see the congruence to the story so far – what did I miss?  Email me and tell me? =)

So the best news of all?  Wicked is on sale RIGHT NOW on Amazon for only 99 cents!  Start it below and then snag it and read it when you have some time to fall in love with someone new…Ren definitely has #bookboyfriend written all over him 😉