February 16, 2016

EARLY REVIEW: The Power (Titan #2)




The Power (Titan #2), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date:
February 23, 2016
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: new adult paranormal/fantasy romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS


(Synopsis) With any great change, there is always strife, and the Covenant University has become the frontline between pure-bloods who want the Breed Order reinstated and the half-bloods who want the right to control their own destinies.Fate has other plans.


The violence is escalating and war between the races seems inevitable, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Hyperion may be out of commission, but Josie and Seth know they have only earned a reprieve. Seth must get Josie fully prepared, which means controlling her newfound abilities, and they need to find the other demigods before the Titans do.


But the gods are sensing a greater threat.


Only one thing is more dangerous than a bunch of starved Titans, and that’s an out-of-control Apollyon. The aether in Josie is drawing Seth in deeper, and when lust mixes with love and gives way to power, he knows being close to her is not only dangerous to her, but to everyone around them, but letting her go requires a level of selflessness that just isn’t Seth’s style.


The paths taken in the past are becoming the roads of the future.


Just as chaos breaks out, familiar faces from the past return, complicating the already strained bond between Josie and Seth, and when the danger from the Titans erupts with devastating consequences, the dark allure of power calls to Seth again, but this time Josie might not be able to pull him back.


And when the struggle between power and love becomes the deadliest battleground, there may be no salvation.

I really think Jennifer Armentrout is at her best when she's writing paranormal. Don't get me wrong - I love her contemporary books too. But, there's just something about they way she can capture a completely fantastical concept and make it seem totally real. Like, it's totally possible that Apollo could just wink into existence on my La-Z-Boy or that I could catch a glimpse of a shirtless Seth taking down a daimon army in the cornfield behind my house. 

Oh wait - that last one was actually my dream last night. 

In the Power, Jennifer Armentrout marries the very best part of the paranormal/fantasy genre with the very best part of new adult genre - you get creepy monsters and awesome super powers coupled with angst and feels so strong that I promise your tears will be real. Oh - and there WILL be tears. 

Seth and Josie have hit their stride as he's training her to use her powers by day and being her cuddle bunny by night. But, they have a dangerous mission on which they must soon embark. And old friends are scheduled to arrive that will only serve to complicate matters even more. 

Seth broke my heart in The Power. Into. A. Million. Pieces. He has never dealt with the guilt he still harbors over his actions in the past. And, now Josie looks at him with her heart in her eyes, and it's making him feel even more unworthy. And, he knows she's full of aether now that her identity has been unlocked, and he's tempted every minute by it. Which, of course, only makes him feel worse. 

Seth has trouble recognizing his positive presence in the lives of those around him. He only sees the bad, and every time Josie does something nice for him, it hits him like a ton of bricks. I wanted to give him a hundred hugs. From the very beginning of The Power, you got the feeling that Seth was nearing his breaking point, and we were just waiting for that other shoe to drop.

My heart went out to Josie too. She is flat out totally in love with Seth, and because of his issues, he's running very hot and cold with her. Those hot moments are SCORCHING. But, the cold moments brought tears to my eyes. And things only get more complicated for her when Alex returns with Aiden for their six months topside. It is not easy to be around Seth and Alex with their connection and their history when you're trying to be the new woman in his life. Talk about odd woman out.

Despite how awful all that had to be for her, Josie has no problem stepping up when she needs to and putting her new skills to use. This chick is totally my hero. She's fighting for everything - her man, her life, the whole world.

The Power is feels upon feels upon feels. It's also crazy awesome action and a creative blend of Greek mythology and that certain something that can only come from Jennifer L. Armentrout. You will laugh. You will cry. You will root for the good guys and yell at the bad guys and bemoan the end when it comes, because it will be a whole year until we find out what happens next. But that's okay - that just gives us plenty of chances to re-read.


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