momwithareadingproblem's reviews
1177 reviews

OMG!!!!!! Amazing sequel to this series. I literally was left speechless at the conclusion of this book. It's taken me two days to recover in order to even write a decent review! I would like to give props to the author. Ms. Wilder you are amazing! Not only have you reeled me in, but I'm so invested in this story that I will see it to its end. The characters, the plot, the twists and turns, and the beautiful world of Traterra have led me on an emotional roller coaster this week. I've laughed out loud, I've cried, I've yelled, and I was so shocked by the ending that I literally threw my kindle down in a fit of frustration.

The following is quick summary of end of book 1, so if you haven't read it yet, skip this first paragraph!

Spoiler

We last saw Beckit heartbroken. Her erone had resigned and said he was leaving on a mission to find Crimson. Basically Aaron felt as though he could no longer do his job appropriately because of his feelings for Beckit. So in short he leaves her!! HOW DARE HE?!?!

Book 2 picks up a few weeks after the events of Book 1.
"Is he dead?" This simple question from Beckit stopped my heart and it did not restart till several pages later. A race through the castle, an ominous prisoner who is yelling Beckit's name and a close call with death occur just in the first chapter! We are introduced to a few new characters and creatures as well.

First off Kale........oh how I loathe thee! Kale is Beckit's new erone and boy does he have a stick up his bottom! Tensions rise between the two of them especially with Aaron back in the picture and wanting to be Beckit's erone once more. But not all is what it seems with Broccoli, oops I mean Kale (I had a Tameka slip :) )

We also get a chance to meet the Elves at The Alter......just the name gave me the creeps. The imagery from this particular landscape is amazing. Wilder paints a picture with her words and I had no trouble imagining this awful place.

Boa and Rillage Gaen are back in this book along with Crimson supporters. But who is Crimson? What is he trying to do (beside take over the second seat)? The author has set up a wonderful series and I see many plots coming just from our villains.

All our old favorites are back: Tameka, Royce, Ran, Frost, and Linnie. Along with a few new faves for me: Xoe (Aaron's squire), Denzin and Dozen, and the fatherly knight Atlas. And then of course the muddled romance of Beckit and Aaron. I think this quote from the book sums it up best:

"I am your erone."
"Yes."
"I am your knight."
"Yes."
"I am yours."
"Yes--no, wait, no."

Oh! and the ending...........ARGH!!!!! It is a cliff hanger and I screamed for real when I read it. I will not ruin it by saying what happens but I will say WHY?!?!?!?!

Usually sequels don't live up to their predecessors. This one does! Plenty of action, plot twists, and romance kept the story alive for me. The characters are well developed, the dialogue is humorous if not ironic at times, and the imagery is outstanding! I believe I have a new favorite series/author and I personally can NOT wait for book 3!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

First let me say Wow! This book hooked me from the first lines and I could not sit it down. I immediately picked up with book two and finished them both in three days. Armored tells a tale about a girl coming of age and finding out that all of our Earth myths are not only true but in fact alien.

The story starts with our heroine Beckit Wright. She is a seventeen year old on the verge of high school graduation, captain of the swim team, and--through her own description--not a girl to turn heads. She's an orphan and remembers nothing from her childhood or about her birth parents. After a series of FML events, Beckit learns about Traterra, a planet filled with banshees, werewolves, dooms, mermaids, vampires (just to name a few) and that she is a part of some supernatural te-trad. As the Earth te-trad she has been called to Traterra to protect it from a yet unnamed foe. Beckit is a character I found easy to relate to. Wilder's use of everyday slang and references to popular pop culture keep our heroine tied to the readers in an Earthling type way.

Then there's Aaron......oh my he makes me swoon! "He felt safe. Which was funny since safe wouldn't be a word one would use to describe the stalker." Turns out Aaron is not a stalker but an erone from the planet of Traterra. His job is to protect the te-trad at all costs. And does he ever have his work cut out for him. Aaron struggles not only with his job but with his feelings for Beckit, making a very hot romance!

"Every time he spoke, it was like someone was pouring melted chocolate down Beckit's spine. And those eyes."

Besides our two main characters, we have Tameka (Beckit's besty and only other main character who is human), Ran (a werewolf), Linnie (the witch), and Frost (the vampire). This ragtag group become not only close friends but family to Beckit as she is not only away from her home but learning about a future that is uncertain.

The only reason I could not give this book five stars is the narration at the beginning. Through out the first several chapters we are in a third-person limited POV and get a taste of what is going on from all of the characters. I found this very hard to follow and several times caught myself having to reread certain sections just to figure out whose head I was in. Overall though the book is outstanding! I laughed out loud, cried with Beckit and found the whole romance endearing. By far this is one of the best sci-fi books I've read in a long LONG time!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.