[Lisa’s Review:] Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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.

By now, I seriously feel like a broken record whenever I write a review for one of Jen’s books. They usually begin with some form of “this book is so awesome I can’t even tell you,”; “here we go again,” or “holy awesome.” But honestly, I don’t know what to tell you – her writing is simply that amazing. I read Jen’s books religiously, and yet for some reason, I never picked up this series until last year. I totally regret not doing it years ago.

Wicked, the eponymous series’s first installment is a seductive, highly addictive new adult paranormal romance. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down (even though I totally should have been studying). The storyline follows Ivy Morgan and her ‘secret life’ serving an organization called the Order. It’s her duty to protect the human world from the world of the fae while keeping humans blissfully unaware of its existence. Or the existence of the Order for that matter. The set up reminded me a bit of Jen’s standalone Unchained, in which Nephilim, half-blood angels, serve humanity in a similar secret organization set up. And maybe a bit of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments.

When Ivy is injured during a rather unexcepted encounter while on duty, it becomes clear that Ivy isn’t the only one who has been keeping secrets. She finds herself caught between trusting her instincts and obeying the rules she’s followed all her life. Unable to clearly differentiate between friend and potential foe any longer, she teams up with newcomer Ren – six foot and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness – as he seems to be the only one recognizing the danger of her discovery. Or rather seems to want to.

I adore them both as individual characters – Ivy, with the fiery temper and, at times, cool demeanor that she wears like armor. And Ren in all his charming, playful glory – but their chemistry as a couple is seriously off the charts. While Ren is flirty and open about his attraction to Ivy from the get-go, Ivy tries her best to ignore her attraction to him. Even though she not so secretly yearns for everything he has to offer. She knows he’s a threat to her carefully constructed walls. Ren is persistent but never pushy – I loved every damn second of it. Prepare yourself for steamy sexy times that will leave you wanting more. And there’s Tink: awesome, weird, and absolutely impossible to not like. He’s Ivy’s adorable pixie-formated friend and sort of the equivalent of Peanut in Storm and Fury (if you haven’t read that one yet – go read it. That’s an order).

I’ve read my fair share of books involving the fae over the years, each with slightly different elements, some more traditional and based on lore than others. While we see traces of said legends once again, Jen managed to add a modern twist and weave her own take-on of the fae into the plot. Thus, the world-building was beautiful, unique, and everything I’d hoped for. The ‘other world’ remains a bit of a mystery in the first book, but we learn new things as the series continues.

While I guessed a few plot-twists quite early into the story, others were weaved in so cleverly I thought I had figured it out, and then the next pages shot it all to hell again. Turns out I was right initially, but Jen managed to keep me on my toes through the vast majority of the book, wondering if I actually did get it right. Some people found it too predictable, but I sort of didn’t really mind that. I never have. If it’s well-written and still well-developed, who cares whether you figure it out a bit early? A diverse group of supporting characters adds “the little extra,” making this an entertaining, exciting, and action-packed read that is definitely worth your time.

You have now officially reached the end of my essay. If you haven’t guessed by now – I’d definitely recommend this one. Even if paranormal usually isn’t your go-to read, give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it. Pro tip: don’t start this book unless you have time for the second one straight after – the cliffhanger will make you miserable.

Lisa

Hi! I’m Lisa. I’m twenty-three, a college student and a book lover. I spend every free minute, and most of my lectures, reading all kinds of books, which is how I ended up here. While I particularly enjoy books of the young and new adult variety, I also love historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, all things romance, and one or the other classic as well. If I’m not reading, I’m either working, sleeping, binge-watching my newest obsession on Netflix, or on my way to Starbucks, to satisfy my slight caffeine addiction.