Daimon (The Prequel to Half-Blood) (The Covenant Series)

The Covenant books are amazing! Read this prequel first, and then enjoy the next 3 books and 1 novella- you're in for a treat. The characters personalities shine through the pages. Alex, the heroine is complex, tough, and funny- I love her. The action and adventure and romance add up to a perfect set of books.

This prequel to the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, introduces us to headstrong Alex, swoony Aiden, Alex's mom, and the world of Greek Mythology that these characters inhabit. In flashbacks, we see a young Alex stand up to her elders and her mom abandoning their world to protect her daughter. As a half blood (half demigod, half human) Alex is stronger than mere mortals, and that strength and her strong will, keep getting her into trouble in the mortal world.

They live a life on the run, never staying in one place too long. Until the daimons, evil creatures driven to drink the blood of demigods, find them, then all bets are off.

This short prequel does a really good job of establishing the world and Alex's character, but it fell short of really engaging me. If I wasn't already a devoted JLA fan, I'm not sure I would have bothered reading the first book in the series. It isn't necessary to read this prequel to enjoy the series, but after you've read the first book, it might be good to go back and read the prequel to help understand how things got to be the way they are. In fact, I think if you read in that order, Book 1, Prequel, Book 2, then Daimon is actually a pretty good story.

Plot
The plot is somewhat lacking since the purpose of the prequel is to set up the series, which is why this isn't necessarily a compelling read. Even so, there were some surprises that set everything in motion for book 1, Half-Blood.

World Building
This is where Daimon really shines. Introducing us to modern-day Greek Gods, their hidden world, and the mortal world they sometimes interact with, sets the stage for the series really well.

Characters
We mostly get a look at Alex and her character, as well as the evil of the daimons. It's obvious from the first chapter that Alex is complex, unconventional, and completely unpredictable. We also get to see how much Alex's mom loves her and what she was willing to sacrifice for her daughter.

Bottom Line
As a prequel, it's not really necessary and not all that compelling. But if you read Half-Blood first, it fills in some blanks.

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Prequel to the Covenant series

4.75 stars

Alexandria and her mother have lived with mortals for three years. Three years away from her home and trying to forget her duty to protect demigods. After horrifying events lead Alex to Miami she finds herself on the run from daimons, the very things she’s been trained to kill. On the run from daimons and trying to find her way back to the place she escaped from- the Covenant- things are about to get crazy for Alex. The thing I love about JLA is that her writing is always fun. She’s snarky and entertaining. I always find myself loving the heroine and swooning for the hero. Being that this story is only 62 pages and I was already starting to feel this way, I’d say that Armentrout is amazing. I know that a lot of people don’t like this series because it’s a “rip-off” of Vampire Academy. I love VA and I see the similarities, but it doesn’t seem all that much the same now. Keep in mind that Obsidian was also said to be a rip-off of Twilight with aliens. If you’ve read more than one book, then you know that this because completely irrelevant as the story progresses. I’m sure the same thing will happen with this series.

For a short story, I thought Alex was great and this Seth guy sounds great. I already have Half-Blood and hope to get to it soon because JLA never disappoints.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 5

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4.75

Plotastic Scale: 4.5

Cover Thoughts: This cover is gorgeous. It’s not particularly different, but it is a good cover and I like it a lot.

I have been wanting to read Jennifer L Armentrout's Covenant series for ages now but for some reason I never quite got around to it. Then I was sent a copy of the first book Half-Blood for review which gave me the perfect excuse to dive into the series. Daimon is a prequel novella that can be purchased from the store or downloaded for free from the US publisher Spencer Hill Press's website. It is also included at the back of the UK paperback of Half-Blood but I would recommend starting with this before you read the full length novel.

Alex is a half-blood descendent of the gods and has the extra strength and abilities that come with that. She grew up amongst others of her kind but for the last three years she has been hiding amidst the human population with her mother. Alex never really understood why her mother was so adamant that they left their old life behind them but she accepted her decision and has tried to make the most of it. Leaving her home and her friends was hard though and when they are attacked by daimons Alex's instincts send her fleeing for the safety of her old life. Can she return to the community safely or has she made the biggest mistake of her life?

Daimon is a great introduction to the series, it completely sucked me in and left me desperate to pick up my copy of Half-Bad to find out what happens to Alex next. Jennifer L Armentrout's writing style always draws me in and she makes it very easy for you to connect with her characters, you find yourself feeling Alex's emotions right alongside her. You'll experience her confusion, fear and heartbreak over the events that unfold and it is impossible not to root for her. We are given just enough information about the world the author has created to hook you in but not too much to overwhelm the story. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the series, the best thing about waiting this long to start it is that so many books are already available and waiting for me to devour them!

*Spoilerish*
Being that this was a novella I didn’t actually expect to like it very much. I find that most of the time novellas are too short to have any substance. Not true with this one, I honestly expected to find a short story that lead up to a conflict without actually delving in. While the conflict wasn’t resolved it did have a hefty fight and lots of emotions.

I didn’t particularly have a chance to come to like our main protagonist, Alex. But I think I’m going to. She’s got a lot of spunk and when the worst possible thing happens to her, her mother’s death, and she sees it, she reacts in the way most would but also pulls herself out of the trauma long enough to survive. I saw some serious writing skills from Armentrout at that point. Alex sees her mother killed and kind of eaten. Fear drives her to fend for herself. She finds someplace safe and then falls apart, suitably apart for several days. She pulls herself together long enough to make a plan and that plan is what drives her on even though she keeps remembering what happened.

I liked that while Alex was strong with superhuman strength she was still real enough. Being put in an extreme situation she handled in a realistic way not like the terminator which I liked.

Daimon, the prequel to Half-Blood is light on the word count but heavy on the impact! I didn't expect to whip through it so fast (and am quite sad that I did), but Alex's sarcastic voice propelled me through along with the fast-paced action. I decided that Alex is my long-lost best friend forever. Although she a powerful half-blood (and seriously knows how to kick some tail), she has some very human wit and attitude, and her voice takes up the small space of this novella and dominates it. Even in the tense and sorrowful situations she encounters, she still has that biting yet self-deprecating sense of humor that rocked my world. It's really not a good thing to be laughing out loud when one is making one's students watch a boring-ish movie....

I love the way this sets the reader up to basically be chomping at the bit to read Half-Blood. There are hints of Alex's forbidden feelings for a pure-blood she used to know that taint every relationship she has tried to have with a human, and it makes sense because he sounds pretty smexy in the little snippets we get of him. There is the mystery of why her mother felt it was necessary to leave the Covenant and spirit her daughter away into the human world. There is a shocking vision of how evil and destructive the daimons are... And even a tiny, tiny hint that there is something a bit different about Alex...

So, I liken this short reading experience to getting a tasty bite of chocolate and being told that I can have a lot more later! It's just a little bit on the mean side, but it lets me know I need to be hanging out around the chocolate-giver's door like a junkie at a crack house (or a daimon hooked on aether?). Okay, so I mixed similes there that weren't that great and that kind of made me sound like a stalker... But you get the picture!! This is a series to watch fo' shizzle!!!

Daimon is a prequel to Half-Blood. I was recommended to read this short story before starting Half-Blood and I'm so glad I did. In Daimon, we are introduced to Alexandria, a half-blood, whose mother has dragged her away from the Covenant (a school for Pures and Half-Bloods) without so much as a reason. Alex and her mother have been living among mortals for the past 3 years jumping from town to town.

Alex has a bit of a temper with some awesome ninja skills to match. Back at the Covenant, Alex has been trained to kill daimons, but will she be able to rely on her training when the daimons come looking for her? And who exactly should she be more scared of, the Covenant or the daimons?

Daimon was a quick read; the actual story is about 60 pages. I don't think it is necessary to read before Half-Blood, but it will definitely help understand the world of Pures and Half-Bloods and will give you a sneak-peek of the awesome story that is to come. I know this isn't much of a review, but I wanted to recommend anyone who was thinking about starting the Covenant series to read this first.
***
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Wow, just freaking wow. I shouldn’t be this shocked because I knew Jennifer could write extraordinarily well, but I just wasn’t expected this.

This novella follows Alexandria Andros on a journey away from everything she has ever known. The half-blood daughter of a god, she was yanked out of the school for half-bloods by her mother who would never explain why they had to leave, simply saying “it’s not safe.” That was three years ago and they are still on the run and she still has not explanation for why they had to leave. Then the daimons arrive and everything for her changes drastically again. Running for her life with a scant few hundred dollars and no one to turn to, Alexandria must find a way to stay alive, by any means necessary.

To be so short, this was utterly captivating. Again, I don’t know why I’m so surprised by this fact because I felt the same way about Jennifer’s Lux series. I loved Alexandria immediately. This is no shy, mousey heroine who is too caught up in her own drama to notice the outside world, no sir. I have a feeling that by the time I finish this series, Alex will be the very best example of bad-ass heroine. Once again, I get left with a cliffhanger but since the next book in the series (in fact the next several books) is already available, I’ll save that exhausted tirade for another day. I don’t mind it as much in her books because she has yet to fall prey to that second book syndrome and her books always seem worth the wait. With all that being said, please people, ignore the few negative reviews out there and get a copy of the novella. You’ll definitely enjoy it.

Alexandria Andros is a half-blood - half human, half pure blood. And her race is trained at the Covenant to serve the children of the gods. But Alex and her mother fled no sooner then three years after Alex was deemed unworthy and have been on the run ever since. But Fate evidentially catches up with them when a daimon attacks her mother and she has no choice but to go back to the place her mother had sworn her to stay away from, the place where everything started - the Covenant. Hoping the Sentinels and Guards will take her back. But wishful thinking doesn't get her anywhere when every step she takes to the ideal safety, her chances of death increases by a maximum number. Growing up being taught only one thing, training to kill the creatures she's had to face from the very essence of her time. And now... that's the very thing she's being hunted by.

This short novella/ prequel was an outstanding beginning to a beautiful series. I cried at the very beginning - which was new for me - but laughed all at the same time. Alex had that sarcastic dry humor that reminded me of Rose from Vampire Academy. She was tough and boy oh man did she know how to fight. If I ever got stranded on an island surrounded by pirates and flesh eating monkeys, I'd want to be stuck with her. The story was sincere; the relationship between Alex and her mother was something I could connect to. You could literally feel the love through the words. And the way Armentrout put so much humor and fulfillment of wit in almost every paragraph made it such a great page-turner. The writing was perfect, flowing, edgy, elegant, and defiant. Rather then sticking with the basics, Jennifer L. Armentrout blew me away with her down to earth and very YA-ish vocabulary. Alex was daring and fierce, most definitely when it came to dealing with the daimons. It was like she turned into Xena the warrior princess. But the aggressiveness of her nature was something needed in the story, and it was very understandable. All in all, this was an amazing short prequel and I look forward to the release of Half-Blood with much anticipation.

ISBN: 9780983157267
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 67
Formats Available: Kindle, paperback

BLURB from Goodreads
For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals--pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that's a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return--the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death... because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.

MY REVIEW
I purchased this prequel from the store.co.uk after Kayleigh - a fellow blogger literally raved about this series. also Spence Hill Press sent me a paperback copy of Deity! So it spurred me on to buy the previous books to it to enable me to review the series.
So, I knew that Aiden was ...er gorgeous but when JLA describes his eyes oh wow! Talk about a dreamy kind of guy, and he only has a brief appearance in this novella. So now the cover, is a flower that has a kind of smoke of Aether coming off it, I find it attractive and like the colour too. It does tie into the book as flowers are mentioned so thats, good too.
Anyhow back to the book, I did enjoy the plot, the Academy setting always seems to work really well. Though in this book we meet Alexandria and her mother Raschelle. They have been left the safety of the academy for three years now. everything seems to be going to Raschelle's plan whatever her plan is. She won't even tell Alexandria why they had to leave the Academy so quickly.
There's a tragic attack that forces Alex into making the decision that she must make her way back to the Academy. Will she reach the "safety" of the Academy alone, or will she be attacked along the way.
A great short novella, that introduces us to Alexandria and her mother, along with providing us with the knowledge that they left the academy under somewhat of a cloud and in a hurry.
The novella sets the scene for the rest of the series.
So did I enjoy it? Yes Will I read more of the series? Of course! Would I recommend? At this stage I want to read some of the first full book first, but pushed into a yes or no....hmm Yes

(source: downloaded for free from the publishers website - thanks to Spencer Hill Press.)
17-year-old Alex isn't your average teenage girl, in fact she's a half-blood, which means she's only half human, the other half of her is directly descended from gods (her mother is the daughter of a demi-god - a pure-blood).
Alex has a bit of a temper, and this is partly the reason that three years ago her mother took her and left the `covenant' and they have been on the run ever since. Alex doesn't know the reasons why they are on the run, just that her mother says that their lives would be in danger if they went back.

One day Alex sees a Daimon (dee-mon), something that she never expected to see. Daimons are pure-bloods, who survive on eather, which is sucked from other pure-bloods (I think I worked this out right?!) Anyway, they're basically a bit like vampires. One daimon has killed her mother, and another is after her, so Alex does the only thing she can - she grabs their emergency cash and leaves.

Eventually after a few days in a motel, Alex realises that the only thing she can do to save herself now, is to find her way back to the covenant. Thus begins her journey, but can she make it back before the Daimon's find her again?

I often don't know whether to read the prequels before reading the book, as stupid as that sounds, because I find that they're often confusing, and more often than not have no ending, which annoys me if I have to wait for the book to come out.
Having heard so much about JLA's covenant series, I decided to give Daimon a go. The story itself is well-written and gives us a glimpse into Alex's life before the start of `Half Blood' and more specifically her mother's death. It also begins to explain the complicated background of all these gods/ pure bloods/ half bloods, etc. although I found this confusing!
This story doesn't have an end as such, instead it leads us straight into the first chapter of `Half Blood', making this more a prologue than a prequel really.
I did find my attention waning towards the end of this is if I'm honest, but I'm pretty sure that once I get into `Half Blood' I won't have this problem.
Overall; download this for free from the publishers website! Give it a go, you've got nothing to lose really!
5 out of 10.

DAIMON (pronounced DEE-mun) is the prequel to Jennifer's debut series. Last time I had the opportunity to read a prequel to a book, I ended up reading it after reading the book itself. I thought the prequel was cute and could see how it was useful to read before starting the book. This time, I read the prequel before the book (DAIMON before HALF-BLOOD). It's definitely made me want to read HALF-BLOOD even more than I wanted to before.

DAIMON is a really great intro into the world of the Gods and their descendants. It gives us a peak at the main character, Alex (Alexandria), and the way she's living her life. Very quickly, I found myself having an emotional attachment to Alex, probably because of the trouble she runs into (and if that's not an understatement, I don't know what is!). We get a glimpse at her relationship with her mom, and how she's unhappy with the fact that they have to live among mortals. Most of all, there are a lot of questions raised about WHY they have to live among mortals.

So far, I like Jennifer's writing style. She puts a lot of humour in her writing, mostly in the form of sarcastic comments from Alex. One of my favourite lines:
"I was so going to kick a Covenant Instructor in the face if I ever made it back there alive."
pg. 54
That is one line of many that made me laugh out loud. There's definitely no shortage of them, and that's what I like about her writing. At the same time, Jennifer also knows how to take things down a notch and make it serious and emotional when it needs to be, by including a good amount of detail without having it be overwhelming or drawn-out.

If you're planning on reading HALF-BLOOD, I highly recommend reading DAIMON first. It is a great way to introduce us to the characters, and to Jennifer's writing. And it ends exactly where HALF-BLOOD starts, which makes you want to pick up HALF-BLOOD right after finishing it!

Alex the Daimon Slayer. Cue the theme. Not one or two, but four Daimons all lurking in the dark shadows. Only instead of Mr. Pointy, she weilds a shiny Titanium Spade left and right, Daimons go poof! Ashes to little blue dust. Fade to black. Can't you see it?

So, who are you casting?

(Ignore the nerd who's obviously channeling some Buffy hardcore, right now!)

"SHE SMELLS LIKE MOTHBALLS AND DEATH." (Chapter 1 ;; pp 03)

Holy banana's! Best.first.line.ever.

Daimon: The Prequel to Half-Blood is action packed, delivers the perfect sarcastic witty punch that you're craving and doesn't stop giving it to you. It hits you hard and keeps on delivering, pitch perfect, fast-paced, pages turning until the last one and you're left wanting more. There is so much gripping tension within these few pages of the novella, that it reads like it's straight out of the actual novel itself, Half-Blood. It is fantastic and Daimon: The Prequel To Half-Blood possesses a uniqueness that most other novella's doesn't, which is definitely a breath of fresh air in the pool of most young adult paranormal novels.

Armentrout's ability to world build, provide an interesting and unique set-up for the Covenant, while combining mythology seemingly flawless is amazing. I want to seriously drink up the mythology and the idea of the demigods, the pure-blood's and their ability to control elementals, half-blood's, and the aether high that Daimon's get from sucking pure blood's dry. It is all so very interesting and causes me to have many questions like, why are the Daimons seeking Alex out when she's only half-blood and less than a snack pack for them?

This whole world and the mythology. I want to know more about the Hematoi, their history and heritage, and just everything about their world and who they are, what they are, where they came from, and how they came about. Everything. I want to know all of this and I want to know how the Covenant came to be and how it works, all the ins and outs of it. It definitely compels the reader to want to find out more, by turning the pages. This little novella sets it all up perfectly and gives you just enough to want more, without over-doing it.

Daimon: The Prequel To Half-Blood is funny in all of the right places that it should be. Oh man, is it hilarious. A few of my favorite lines are:

"Normal girls don't want their boobs mauled either," (Chapter 1 ;; pp 05)

"Was your mom a gardner? Because a face like yours belongs planted on the ground." (Chapter 2 ;; pp 12)

"I was so going to kick a Convent Instructor in the face if I ever made it back there alive." (Chapter 11 ;; pp 53) --> Side Note: Who's channeling Buffy now?! ;)

It's hard to think of another word other than amazing, because this little novella is only a glimpse of what's to come and you know that's going to be even more epic. Alex is half-blood, she knows who she is, now she just needs to know the why they were running all those years. She's witty, intelligent, and exudes super-strength like crazy. It just oozes out of her and yet she's so very likable, too.

It's extremely hard not to feel with Alex, when she experiences loss in such a profoundly violent way, and has no other option but to seek out the very thing that her mother was trying to protect her from when they fled from the Covenant three years prior. It now becomes a question of why, as overwhelming greif gives way to anger and anger bubbles into red flashes and red flashes flare into a violent rage that has her running scared.

Can we talk about the imagery for a minute, because that's another thing that I loved about this novella. In my mind, I could almost see, hear, taste, touch, and feel everything that was happening. Man, does Armentrout really know how to bring a scene to life with just a mere turn of the phrase. I could seriously see Aiden stepping through the flames, unscathed and completely in tact. Oh yes, this is a hot mysterious Daimon Hunter that I'm already crushing on and he's only yet, been introduced in the sneek peek for Half-Blood.

With the strength of ten men and forty Daimons, will Alex be able to choose between love or doing what she must do in order to survive?

That's a good question, can't wait to find out in Half-Blood.

Daimon: The Prequel To Half-Blood totally rocks the five stars that it deserves. I'd give it six, if I had a sixth to give. Fans of Richelle Mead, Kelley Armstrong, and even Kim Harrison will definitely love this. This is F-R-E-E guys! So, you don't have A-N-Y excuse, just read the damn thing OKAY!

Alexandria is a half-blood offspring of the demigods. She is tough, she is rough, and not afraid to kick some ass and speak her mind! She is strong and in these short pages shows it time and time again. First by running, yes running, accepting that survival is more important than her grief. Then later, when she is dragged down by grief, by mentally slapping herself and picking herself up to continue surviving. I just loved Alexandria from the first page! I think she is going to be up there with other badass heroines like Rose Hathaway and Katniss Everdeen.

The plot was also very interesting. The idea of the Pure-bloods and Half-bloods, and how they declared Alexandria less than that, but there are hints she can actually be more. Also, Pure-bloods have power over one element (fire,water,air,earth), so I'll be looking forward to some major elemental battles. And some major issues with the `no mixing' between the Half-bloods and Pure-bloods, since Alexandria seems to have a major crush on some hunky grey eyed Pure-blood.

The Daimons (evil guys) are quite awful and scary. They are things that feed on aether, the essence of the gods. And though Alexandria is only a half-blood (meaning less aether) they manage to track her as if her aether was large and easy enough to detect. I sense a mystery there!

The copy of Daimon I downloaded also included a few pages of Half-Blood. It basically continues the minute after Daimon finishes, so that was cool. And what's more, I got to meet Aiden St. Delphi, Alexandria's forbidden crush!

Daimon is the rather short prequel to Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. The book is approximately 11 chapters long, but felt more like a primer to me than a prequel because there is a significant amount of world building.

I haven't really decided if I like the main character, Alex, yet, but she is certainly spunky. Alex is descended from a demi-god mother and a mortal father, and as a result has super-human strength that allows her to defend herself from mortal dangers rather easily. Unfortunately, her occasional exhibitions of strength cause people to view her as a freak and make it difficult for Alex to fully become part of the mortal realm. Alex, as with other half-bloods, has always been raised among other descendants of the gods and is only mingling with mortals because her mother fled from their community.

Alex has no idea why her mother decided they needed to leave the other descendants of the gods, but she does no that she is not safe in the mortal realm, and must try to live a normal life despite the risks she is constantly facing.

The mythology in Daimon is nothing like what I expected it to be. Rather than the traditional Greek mythology that I am used to, Armentrout has created unique elements of mythology to add to the story. Whether or not I will like this new take on Greek mythology remains to be seen. There simply wasn't enough in the prequel for me to decide if this is a series I will enjoy.

This novella was a great introduction to the Covenant series, which I have yet to read. I am usually not one to read a pre-quel, to be honest. I prefer to read the first book and then go back. I feel as if I learn even more from doing so. But I was too tempted to get a glimpse without having to immerse myself in a brand new book at this time.
As always, JLA has me wrapped right into another one of her stories. She really has the ability to pull you in within the first few paragraphs of her stories. I am totally intrigued by a series of books that is based on Gods, Pure Bloods, Half-Bloods and anything in between. I am a lover of mythology and this will fit right in with that!
So far I really love Alex (Alexandria). I can feel her sorrow and pain at the loss she has experienced. I can feel her determination at needing to keep going and find out what her purpose really is. I can feel her fear. As always, Armentrout makes the feelings of her characters palpable.
And Armentrout's writing style is easy and flowing. She makes you want to just keep reading and turn her pages. There was nothing dull about this story. And, despite there being barely any dialogue at all, I still felt like I wanted to keep going and was never bored.
I am really looking forward to reading Half-Blood!
4 out of 5 stars from me, only because it left me wanting so much more!

While waiting for my Half-Blood book to arrive, I've decided to read Daimon. It is the prequel novel to Half-Blood, the first book in the Covenant Series by Jennifer Armentrout. I thank Angela (Reading Angel) for recommending this book. I really enjoyed it, far more than I thought I would. I think I'm beginning to fall in love with this new series.

Alexandria or Alex, is the daughter of a mortal and a demigod, and that makes her a Half-blood. She and her mother (a pure-blood Hematoi) were living with the mortals since they leave the Covenant three years ago--the reason why they left is still a mystery to her. Until her mother was killed by a Daimon. Now an orphan and with no where else to go, she has no choice but flee and return to the Covenant. Daimons are following her and she doesn't know why they are hunting her.

When I started reading this book, I was hooked immediately. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this novella. It's short and I finished it in just a couple of hours. Trust me, it was an exciting and engaging read! I love Alex, she's strong and brave and she's a perfect kick-ass heroine for me. I can't wait to read more about her and her crush Aiden St. Delphi whom I've met in the sneak peek of Half-Blood (included in the book). I love the author's writing and everything about this book is just awesomeness! I can't believe I would love this book as much as I do now, knowing that it is just a prequel novella to the actual series. I am waaaay too excited to read Half-Blood and I hope you'll take the time to check out this book too. An intriguing and engaging plot blended with a kick-ass heroine that is ready to kick any daimon's butt is sure to give anyone a fun and enjoyable read!

Daimon is the rather short prequel to Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. The book is approximately 11 chapters long, but felt more like a primer to me than a prequel because there is a significant amount of world building.

I haven't really decided if I like the main character, Alex, yet, but she is certainly spunky. Alex is descended from a demi-god mother and a mortal father, and as a result has super-human strength that allows her to defend herself from mortal dangers rather easily. Unfortunately, her occasional exhibitions of strength cause people to view her as a freak and make it difficult for Alex to fully become part of the mortal realm. Alex, as with other half-bloods, has always been raised among other descendants of the gods and is only mingling with mortals because her mother fled from their community.

Alex has no idea why her mother decided they needed to leave the other descendants of the gods, but she does no that she is not safe in the mortal realm, and must try to live a normal life despite the risks she is constantly facing.

The mythology in Daimon is nothing like what I expected it to be. Rather than the traditional Greek mythology that I am used to, Armentrout has created unique elements of mythology to add to the story. Whether or not I will like this new take on Greek mythology remains to be seen. There simply wasn't enough in the prequel for me to decide if this is a series I will enjoy.

This novella was a great introduction to the Covenant series, which I have yet to read. I am usually not one to read a pre-quel, to be honest. I prefer to read the first book and then go back. I feel as if I learn even more from doing so. But I was too tempted to get a glimpse without having to immerse myself in a brand new book at this time.
As always, JLA has me wrapped right into another one of her stories. She really has the ability to pull you in within the first few paragraphs of her stories. I am totally intrigued by a series of books that is based on Gods, Pure Bloods, Half-Bloods and anything in between. I am a lover of mythology and this will fit right in with that!
So far I really love Alex (Alexandria). I can feel her sorrow and pain at the loss she has experienced. I can feel her determination at needing to keep going and find out what her purpose really is. I can feel her fear. As always, Armentrout makes the feelings of her characters palpable.
And Armentrout's writing style is easy and flowing. She makes you want to just keep reading and turn her pages. There was nothing dull about this story. And, despite there being barely any dialogue at all, I still felt like I wanted to keep going and was never bored.
I am really looking forward to reading Half-Blood!
4 out of 5 stars from me, only because it left me wanting so much more!

While waiting for my Half-Blood book to arrive, I've decided to read Daimon. It is the prequel novel to Half-Blood, the first book in the Covenant Series by Jennifer Armentrout. I thank Angela (Reading Angel) for recommending this book. I really enjoyed it, far more than I thought I would. I think I'm beginning to fall in love with this new series.

Alexandria or Alex, is the daughter of a mortal and a demigod, and that makes her a Half-blood. She and her mother (a pure-blood Hematoi) were living with the mortals since they leave the Covenant three years ago--the reason why they left is still a mystery to her. Until her mother was killed by a Daimon. Now an orphan and with no where else to go, she has no choice but flee and return to the Covenant. Daimons are following her and she doesn't know why they are hunting her.

When I started reading this book, I was hooked immediately. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this novella. It's short and I finished it in just a couple of hours. Trust me, it was an exciting and engaging read! I love Alex, she's strong and brave and she's a perfect kick-ass heroine for me. I can't wait to read more about her and her crush Aiden St. Delphi whom I've met in the sneak peek of Half-Blood (included in the book). I love the author's writing and everything about this book is just awesomeness! I can't believe I would love this book as much as I do now, knowing that it is just a prequel novella to the actual series. I am waaaay too excited to read Half-Blood and I hope you'll take the time to check out this book too. An intriguing and engaging plot blended with a kick-ass heroine that is ready to kick any daimon's butt is sure to give anyone a fun and enjoyable read!

Daimon, the prequel to Half-Blood, was amazing. I read it whilst being somewhat dead and drowsy with a fever and still loved it! The short story begins with Alex at the Covenant, being scrutinised by the Hematoi minister who deems her useless and mortal. We're then suddenly on earth where Alex is down at the beach with her whale-saving boyfriend, Matt. When two young men jokingly harass them, Alex shows her inner-fighter and scares them all away with her aggression. Afterwards, we're thrown into exciting action when she and her mother are attacked by daimons at their house.

Alex is a great character and I absolutely can't wait to see more of her in Half-Blood. Although she experiences fear like mortals, Alex is strong and is able to think quickly on her feet. She has good morals and puts others before herself. I think she's a brilliant narrator, which makes for 80% of this prequel's greatness. The intriguing plot makes up the remaining 40%! ;)

I'm very excited for Half-Blood. If Daimon is any indication, the first novel of the Covenant series will be magnificent! This prequel was fun, fast-faced and filled with action. I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the Covenant and all of the different creatures. It's all very mysterious and unlike anything I've ever read! Daimon is very short and you'll fly through it quickly. Is it September yet?

This novelette was a good introduction into the Covenant Series by Jennifer Armentrout. My daughter and niece have read the entire series and thought that I might like it. They were right. I liked getting the back-story on the main character, 17-year-old Alexandria Andros. The series is about a child born of a Hematoi (HEM-a-toy) and a human, Alexandria, or Alex as she likes to be called, namely a half-blood. Up until three years prior to the telling of this story, Alex and her mother were living at the Covenant, where Alex was training as a guard or sentinel. Then suddenly her mother tells her they must leave in the middle of the night. They have been on the run for three years moving from place to place, her mother always in fear that the Covenant would find them. What her mother should have worried about were the Daimon (pronounced DEE-mun).

In this novella we meet Alexandria.(Alex) She is a half-blood; the child of a mortal and a demigod. She is seventeen and living in Florida with her mother. We learn that her mother removed them from the Covenant in an attempt to give Alex a normal life. We briefly learn of forbidden feelings Alex has towards a Pure; which may be the reason her mother left the covenant. I really liked Alex; she has spunk, questions everything and has gotten into a few tiffs when confronted. Daimons appear, seeking to kill them for their sweet tasting blood. Alex quickly learns that not all of her training was correct and is forced to run. She begins to travel to the closest covenant, and is pursued by the Daimons.

Armentrout's writing style is brilliant. She captured my attention in the first few pages, and despite the short length of this prequel managed to give me a real sense of the protagonist. The limited world-building was exciting and enough of a teaser to make me want more. The ending provides a cliff-hanger and my understanding is that book one Half-Blood picks up right where this left off.

Daimon was a delicious teaser for the upcoming series.

I am a huge Jennifer L. Armentrout fan. Her books are packed for paranormal awesomeness, sizzling character chemistry, butt kicking heroines and plenty of snark. Jennifer's Covenant series is one of my favorites. This series features Half-Blood and Pure (you can click on the links to read my reviews). If you're a fan of the series, I'd recommend reading this short e-book series, as it's from Alex's point of view and leads into the very beginning of Half-Blood.

I admit, Alex is a little rough around the edges, but that's part of what makes her so much fun to read about. She's snarky, she proves she can totally fend for herself, and yet through her strength, she's also a little broken. If you're already read Half-Blood, I think you'll enjoy getting a sneak peak into Alex's life as she tries to fit into the human world, as well as getting a glimpse into her relationship with her Mom, and then of course her life on the run that leads her to scene at the very beginning of Half Blood. Plus this is a great filler to read while we're patiently waiting for the next book in this series, Deity.

I loved this introduction book. I love the idea of a 'prequel' before the big book comes out. It gets you so excited to read what comes next. And excited I am. Damion for me HIT THE SPOT. I have been in Clinicals. I haven't been able to read a full book since I started in like I would love to. Like I normally do. But, Friday that is over ;) yay. But, back on topic. When I picked up Damion, it hit the spot in reading that I needed! I devoured it. I loved it. It left me yearning for more. To know what is going to happen. I want to read Half-Blood so bad!!

Here you have Alex (Alexandria). She lives in our world. But, She is not like us. She is not mortal. Alex and her mother are staying in Miami. Something very horrible happens that has Alex running for her life. She runs looking for help from the Covenant. It seems though that every step she takes places her in grave danger.

I want MORE!!!

This is a series that I will love I can tell just by this little prequel.. I am so excited for this.
Jennifer Armentrout really has a gift of bringing you into this story. I already love the main character Alex! :)

Daimon is an exciting and fast paced novella that got me extremely excited to dig into the Covenant series starting with Half-Blood.

In Daimon we have only just met Alex and already this is a heroine that I can tell I'm going to love. She is strong willed, but still down to earth enough to love her mother. She is brave, but realistic enough to get a little bit freaked out about what she is up against. She is half mortal and while we have yet to figure out all of the details of her powers, we do know that she was training to be a guard at the Covenant and thus has some pretty crazy survival skills.

I can't wait to see where the story is going to go from here. I am really looking forward to reading more about the Covenant and what exactly goes on there. I also have so many questions about Half-Bloods and Pures and why exactly they can't mix, how they can control the elements, and what is going on the with Daimons and how did this whole anther addiction come about. If Daimon is any indication of what Jennifer L. Armentrout has in store for her readers, in the first book of the Covenant series, Half-Blood is going to be fantastic!

This novel will serve to make the reader more excited to read Half-Blood, the next novel in this series. The reader will meet Alex, the main character. Alex is of mixed heritage, she is both human and god-a half-blood. Her mother is murdered by Daimons, forcing Alex to run to a place and people she isn't sure will help her. Alex is a strong, determined main character who will endear herself to the reader very quickly.

This novel is short, but it is meant to be a prequel. The reader will be taken into a fascinating world of gods and humans. The author makes the facts of the world very clear to the reader, he/she will not be confused. The novel is fast-paced and exciting. There are surprises and intriguing events throughout the novel.

The short novel ends on a huge cliff-hanger! The reader will be looking forward to Half-Blood. This novel is terrific for young adult/teens who enjoy fantasy novels with plenty of action.

*Complimentary copy received for this review, does not affect my opinion in any way*

Daimon was a nice introduction to Alex and her life outside the Covenant. We find out she's living in the mortal world, how things have been for her and background information on the world she left. We also get the details of the events that lead her back to the Covenant in Half-Blood.

FYI, I'm writing this review after having finished Half-Blood. While I enjoyed the extra details Daimon added to Alex's story, it isn't absolutely necessary to read it. However, it will really whet your appetite for the story - as it did for me. And it was nice to know a little more about things - the finer details - when reading Half-Blood. I immediately dove into Half-Blood upon finishing Daimon.

My Thoughts: This is the prequel to the first book in the Covenant series. It is through this that we get to see what the main character Alex- short for Alexandria- is all about. We get to meet her mom and get a little feel of where they came from. What I liked most about Alex is that she's different, doesn't want to be different but is accepting of it and doesn't want to hide it.

From nearly the beginning of this short novella we are thrown in the action and I quickly found myself flipping the pages. The novella also gave us a sneak peak of Chapter one in book 1- Half-Blood and the action didn't stop. By the time I was as the end I wanted more. It's here in this first chapter that we catch a glimpse of Aiden and I already know he'll be soon added to my literary boyfriend list. He's very appealing and knows just how to make an entrance!

I can already tell The Covenant series is going to be awesome and I can't wait for book 1- Half-Blood to come out September 15, 2011. This is one series you're going to want to read!

Daimon follows Alex in the events before and a bit after her mother's dead. We can see how they live in Miami, hidden among humans.
Alex was still kickass in this prequel eventhough she hasn't had training in three years. The boy she was dating (just like her mother I can't remember his name >_<) was such a wuss, dude! When two other guys were bothering Alex and her little boyfriend, Alex kicked their butts and what does he do? He breaks us with her. Good riddance, Alex! She was still even thinking about her longago crush Aiden St. Delphi anyway.
When Alex finds her mother's lifeless body in her house things get bad for her. She runs from the house after killing a daimon and tries to find her way to the Covenant. Of course we all know (anyone who has read Half-Blood) that things don't go that well.

I didn't think this was as good Half-Blood but it was likable for a prequel short story.

*Spoiler Free*

I actually read this book online for free and boy was it amazing! I read it in record speed, words whizzing past me like there was no tomorrow. Armentrout's writing is spectacular, it sucked me in the moment I started to reading.

Not only is the plot-line unique, I loved the main character Alex and immediately felt attached to her although this book was so short. She was clearly a strong, determined character and I was willing her on, all the way. Every page was filled with tension and I just could not get enough of this story. Also it was action packed and the world Armentrout created should have been confusing in a book this short, however it just made complete and utter sense. It's like you are in the pages of the book and some of the more thrilling scenes play out like a movie in your head.

This book is actually the prequel to the first in Armentrout's Covenant debut series, the next one being Half Blood. I cannot wait to read it, what this lady can make you feel in such a short piece of writing makes me wonder how good Half Blood will be!

THE VERDICT
5 stars - Who knew prequels could be this good? Read this now, you have no excuse not to, it's free!

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