Book Review: Every Last Breath

Every Last Break
(The Dark Elements #3)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published By:  Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: July 28th, 2015

Page Count: 400 pages

Buy it at:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound

Source:  Purchased by Reviewer

Audience:  Mature Young Adult Paranormal Romance


Well now…that was an interesting ending to a trilogy I absolutely loved.  This series had toe-curling romance and a well-paced plot, a heroine I could root for, and guys I could swoon over.  I was very much looking forward to this finish, but while the romance element continued to sizzle (and how)—and I felt much was wrapped up--there was a couple of elements that felt weak to me.  I’ll do my best to explain how I felt about this book without giving too much away, so I’ll try to remain vague…and this might be a relatively short review for that very reason.

I’ll start off with a wee-bit of the negative.  Like I said, the romance factor remained strong…and I loved it (more on that in a bit), but I felt that the explanations were a bit too ‘easy’, and I didn’t feel that “YEAH” when the resolutions were realized…well…one I did do a bit of a woop.  Again, I can’t get into the details without spoiling things but the first two books were building to such an epic climax, I guess I felt a little let down in some departments.  It didn’t pull a lot of emotions out of me like epic finales usually do.  I mean…I’m satisfied…but I wasn’t wow’d by some of it.

I was wow’d by the romance side of things however.  Lots of steaminess, as you would expect if you had read the previous two books.  I’m also glad that Layla’s choice came close to the beginning of the book versus many other YA romances where we don’t get much of the ‘super couple until the very last few pages.  This part, I LOVED!  They worked together (for the most part)…with lots of chemistry-induced banter. It  just left me with the warm fuzzies.  That being said…there were some mature scenes…so I’d peg this for the older young adult crowd.

Zayne...I've never been as big fan of his as Roth but he brought me full circle from when we first were introduced to the gorgeous, protective warden.  He's intense at times and adores Layla...both as friends and romantically.  Things didn’t turn out as I expected for him…but I guess I’m ok with it afterall.

Layla really kicked some butt in this installment and fully came into her own.  Evolution of the heroine is a must for me to love a series…and she had this in spades.  While some of the things that happened with her were ‘conveniently explained’ like I was hinting at before, that didn’t change my thoughts on how she had grown up.  And she matured but still remained true to herself…complete with her snarky inner (and spoken) dialogue.

Roth…oh Roth.  He may just be one of my favourite good guy/bad guys.  Honest to a fault, and unapologetic for it, was one of the MANY things I loved about him.  He had an adorable arrogance about him that had me swooning.  He reminds me of another popular YA dude that remains one of my favourites to this day…Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries fame.  But Roth is Roth…and there’s nothing I would change about him.

Some things that came to be in this finale were sad…some were a bit anti-climatic (in my opinion)…and some elements were just very satisfying.  There were a few surprises thrown in too that kept things quite interesting.

After writing my review, I think I can feel good about giving this last book in The Dark Elements trilogy a solid 4.   Great series…glad I read it.

My review: White Hot Kiss

My review: Stone Cold Touch

Goodreads:

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell...