Death, Doom and Detention by Darynda Jones

Series: Darklight (bk. 2)

Genera: Paranormal Romance

Subjects: Angels, visions, prophets, psychic ability, nephilim, supernatural, New Mexico

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 296 pgs.

HC/PB: Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: Macmillan: St. Martin’s Griffin

Summary/ product description: “The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.
It went out with a bang.
Goodbye normal.
Hello dark and eerie.
While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?”

My Rating: êêêêê

My Review: I love this series. It was so under the radar and had deceptive looking covers. This sequel is just as good as the first book. I love the characters so much. As I said in my review of Death and the Girl Next Door, I love the dialogue and relationships between the characters. Lorelei, Brooke and Glitch have the most hilarious, sarcasm filled conversations ever. Banter and teasing and all kinds of fun. I wish I had friends like them. They’re so loyal and amazing. And Lorelei’s inner monologue is funny too. 

Jared reminds me a lot of Patch from Hush, Hush. He’s also an archangel, not really fallen, but just the angel of Death, Azrial here on Earth.  He’s dark and protective, but mostly good. He turns bad for a little while in the book, but thankfully doesn’t stay that way. He’s very hot too. Cameron, who like Brooke, and is not in a love triangle with Lorelei and Jared, but rather in one with Brooke and Glitch, is also a great character. He’s another really hot, tall guy who just so happens to be a nephilim. It you read the 1^st book, you know all this, but I really just want to say how much I like them both. Brooklyn is the best friend. She’s half African American, half Caucasian. She says the funniest stuff. She made this book awesome. Glitch is a bit nerdy and hates Cameron. Lots of high school drama in this series. Lots of great characters you can really care about. There’re deep and not at all boring. Never a dull moment.

This book’s plot is based around the arrival of nephilim descendants that are out to kill Lorelei before she can fulfill the prophecy as the last prophet of Arabeth. Students start acting really violent after they show up. Lots of crazy stuff starts happening to students and Lorelei. And to Jared. Lorelei also learns a new depth to her visions. A new way to see thing. I agree with Brooke. Her new power is very cool.

This series is not at all cliché. I mean, beside the high school drama stuff, it’s very unique and I hope the uniqueness continues. I love angel books so much. And this one’s in New Mexico! I recommend this series to those who enjoyed any of the following Angel-related series: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Hush, Hush by Becca FitzPatrick, Fallen by Lauren Kate, Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton, A beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies.

Also other series that this book has similarities too: Vampire Diaries (Jared reminds me of Damon.), House of Night (Because the friendship, and school stuff).

Cover Art Review: I hate these covers so much!!! So boring. These books need good covers with a hot angel of death on them. And that red head is the same girl on the cover of A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young.

 

~Haley G

Death and The Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

Series: Darklight (bk. 1)

Genera: Paranormal Romance

Subjects: High school, angels, psychic ability, stalkers, supernatural, orphans, New Mexico

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 274 pgs.

HC/PB: Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: MacMillan: St. Martin’s Griffin Press

Summary/ product description: “Darynda Jones, author of The New York Times bestselling series that began with First Grave on the Right, brings us Death and the Girl Next Door, a thrilling Young Adult novel garnering high praise and early buzz from major authors
Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real? Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones's first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.”

My Rating: êêêêê

My Review: Based off the cover, you’d never guess how awesome this book is. It doesn’t look paranormal, but it totally is. It’s one of the best paranormal romances I’ve read recently. I a big fan of angel book, and this was a really good one despite the lack of flying. It was full of surprises and great, funny characters.

I really liked all five of the main characters (Lorelei, Brooklyn, Glitch, Cameron, and Jared). They made a great team, despite the fighting between Cameron and Jared in the beginning. If you love the Hush, Hush series, the Fallen series, or basically any high school paranormal romance series, this series is not to be missed! I also like the setting. New Mexico is a great backdrop (Like Wyoming was in Unearthly).

This book was fun, full of the most hilarious conversations and dialogue I’ve ever read. Lorelei, Brooklyn and Glitch banter a lot. I really wish I owned a copy of this book because of all those quotes I would have underlined. I felt like I was part of the conversation. The characters are just so realistic. And Jared, he’s just so hot, but I think I might like Cam more personality wise. He’s funnier.

Stalking is only really part of the beginning. The main story is Lorelei’s discoveries about her purpose and past. But we also find out about her friends too. I really excited for Death, Doom and Detention. This series really need to be promoted more. I was so glad that I found out about this because I love angel books.

Cover Art Review: Boring cover. Does not look paranormal. Looks too much like a contemporary book. I would have never picked this up based off the cover.

 

~Haley G