Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements Book 3)

JLA is amazing! this book was everything I hoped it would be. it made me laugh, cry, smile, and get angry!! the only thing im disappointed is the fact that its over. this is a series that I will reread a few times. I hope there are spin offs to come from these characters. I would like to see one of Bambi.

I have really loved reading this series and anxiously awaited this final installment. I have to say, though, that as soon as realized where the storyline was headed, Layla choosing Roth, I really did not enjoy it as much. I almost stopped reading it to be honest because it just made sense and fealt right for Layla and Zane to end up together. I know readers voted for that but of course they chose the bad boy. I finished reading the book, but I couldn't really enjoy it. After waiting for this installment for so long I am kind of disappointed. I love this authors work so much and the book is well written, but this coupling ruined the book and the series ending for me.

Well, that was an intense, insane, emotional rollercoaster ride of a read. WOW! It feels like I've just been through a shredder and now I have the unenviable task of trying to piece myself back together. Seriously, I don't think I can read another book after this one. This one is going to stay with me for a long time to come.

Jennifer could not have concluded this series more perfectly. It was completely unputdownable and jam-packed full of action, adventure, swoony romance, and so many twists and turns that I didn't' see coming. This is pure GOLD. JLA at her very best. This series is one of my all time favorites and there isn't a single thing I could fault because it's totally FAULTLESS in my eyes. 5 Stars all round ( in fact, I'd give each book a gazillion stars if that was an option.)

It's hard to write this review without giving away the big spoiler - as in, which boy did Layla choose? I think it was pretty obvious from the fan polls who was going to win out, but I'm not going to say it here. Let's just stay that her choice made sense and they were so perfect together. ELB is full of romantic scenes and tender, loving moments, and I loved it. But my heart bled for the other boy, and he still wasn't over it by the end of the book (though there are hints of a future love for him). As we all know the path of true love doesn't always run smoothly, and Layla and her love face many challenges. Forced to confront some appalling discoveries, Layla has to take matters into her own hands and make choices that will devastate those who love her. But she is fearless and brave and she doesn't shirk away from any challenge. She has really matured and come into her own in this book and it was amazing to see. I've always loved her anyway, but even more so in this book.

We get some new familiars in this book and the old favorites are still there. I fricking love Bambi! Add in the witches, Originals, the Grim Reaper, Hell, The Boss, the Lilin, and some cool feathered wings, and you get a sense of just how much Jennifer packed into this book. However, it never felt rushed, it all flowed seamlessly. I'd challenge anyway to try and read this book over a few days. It's virtually impossible to put it down.

As often happens when I finish one of Jennifer's amazing series, I now feel totally bereft. Though I'm more than satisfied with the ending, I'm still so sad that it's all over. I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye to Layla, Roth, or Zayne.

Summary: Another EPIC book from an amazingly talented author, and a fantastic end to a brilliant series.

After three books, the five-star review finally arrived! This was one of the best endings to a series that I have ever read!

   So, what was so awesome about this book?

   Where to begin? I still love the characters. This time, I even liked Zayne a little better, I don’t know why. The plot was as good as usual, but there were more action, which is one important reason why I gave it five stars.

   There is less Zayne vs Roth in this book, but when there were, it was pretty awesome, and I still love when Roth calls Zayne Stony. I really don’t understand why, but I do.

   I was happily surprised when I started reading.

   See, I expected Layla to be going back and forth between Zayne and Roth throughout the whole book, like so often with love triangles. I was wrong. I’m not going to tell you who she chose (you’ll have to read the book for yourself), but I will tell you that she makes the decision pretty early in the book, so there’s no back and forth that only annoys the reader to no end. Nope, not at all. This makes me love JLA more than ever, because, I’ll admit it, I was a bit hesitant to read another love triangle.

   I had a big problem while reading. I wanted more than anything to know what would happen, but at the same time, since it was the last book, I wanted it to last long. I forced myself to put it away several times, and it did last longer. And yet, I was so incredibly sad when it was over.

   I honestly have nothing to complain about. The writing is good, the characters are great, the plot is interesting and captivating. I really cared about the characters, and I don’t think I could’ve survived a different ending.

   It was an emotional roller coaster.

   I loved every part of this book; the really cute, touching moments that made me cry and swoon; the funny moments with some of my favorites from earlier when I just couldn’t stop laughing; the serious moments with some pretty big revelations that had me shocked; the action scenes that had me hold my breath.

   And when I finished it, I was so sad. I will really miss Layla, Roth, Zayne, Stacey and Sam! It kind of feels like I’m leaving behind old friends of mine. I’m already considering re-reading the series. I loved every minute of reading this.

   Lastly, I want to share a couple awesome quotes with you.

   “Bambi had eaten a Warden.

   Thumper had eaten an Alpha.

   These familiars were really low on manners.”

   I love every time Bambi is mentioned, and we finally got to meet Thumper, which I’ve been waiting for throughout three books.

   Then there is one quote from a moment that really surprised me.

   “When is there ever a right time to fully give your heart to another? There are always going to be obstacles. You just have to decide which ones are worth it.”

   Can you guess who said it? No? Cayman did. This scene is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book. It is such a perfect, and really true, quote.

   I want to write some more quotes, but some of the quotes will probably be spoilers, and I always try to keep my reviews spoiler-free.

   Every Last Breath will keep you up all night, crying, laughing and swooning! So go buy, borrow, steal the awesomeness that is Every Last Breath, but most importantly, read it!

This is the last book in the dark element trilogy and this means that the moment has come where Layla has to choose between Zayne and Roth! To be honest, I’m very happy that I don’t have to make this decision because I like both guys very much and they’re both great in their own way. But first they all have to survive the Lilin!

What do you do when the people who you grew up with and that you trusted, betray you? What do you do when you discover that your best friend isn’t who you thought he was? That’s how the second book ended and how the third book begins. After looking for the Lilin, a very dangerous demon, Layla and her friends have finally found him and everyone was right, he was right there. Layla is devastated because she knows that Sam’s soul is someplace dangerous and that’s the last thing that she wants for her best friend. Things are just getting more complicated by the minute. So many choices that Layla has to make and as hard as some are, Layla will have to make them.
After almost losing her life, Layla knows that dead can come very quickly and the best way to live your life, is by listening to your heart. So that’s what Layla does, she follows her heart when she finally decides which boy will be her forever and she does it again when she finally realizes how they can kill the Lilin. And yes, love can really overcome all.

I was really happy that the writer decided to let Layla choose her love at the beginning of the book. That she didn’t made us wait until the end. This way we got a romance story in this last book of the dark elements trilogy and I really loved that. There were some emotional moments in this book, like when the witches came to collect their bargain, I hadn’t seen that one coming and there were other moments too. We also learned what Layla really is. This trilogy kept me entertained from the beginning until the end. It never got bored and I really loved Roth, the bad demon and Zayne, the good warden. The second book was more about Zayne and less about Roth but in this book it was more about Roth and I just enjoyed his sarcastic comments. The Layla we see here is more mature then the Layla of the first book. She’s more confident of who she is.
Jennifer Armentrout really showed us that not everyone is totally good or bad (okay, there are always a few exceptions ;o) ).

Jennifer L. Armentrout is definitely a writer that I will read more books of.

This review contains spoilers of the first twoo books in the Dark Elements trilogy: White Hot Kiss & Stone Cold Touch.

The conclusion we've all been waiting for is finally here, and I must say it satisfied every bit and piece of expectation I had and beyond.
The storie takes on right where SCT left us: Layla, Roth, Zayne and Stacey are all at Stacey's having just discovered that Sam was the lilin.

The story develops with a rhythm that hooks you to it every single second.
The love-related decision that Layla has to take happens pretty early on the book - at the first couple of chapters-, which gives the reader the opportunity of seeing a real relationship throughout the story and enjoy of both characters being together for a longer time.

We find ourselves in places we never got to see in the past books - places we've only heard about -, and that was fantastic. We learn a lot about things that we'd only seen mention a little or not at all, and we also get to witness an amazing character development in the secondary characters, who become more important in the plot and get lots of well-deserved love from us.

The book is an emotional roller-coaster ride, even more than the previous two were. With really sad moments that'll break your hear; funny scenes; sarcasm at every page; very lovable, hot and badass characters; a couple of plot-twists here and there and more romance and more action than The Dark Elements has ever had, this book will go straight to your favorites.

Wow. Jennifer Armentrout has done it again. I couldn’t put this book down, which is really bad for a college student who has classes and homework. Safe to say that the day I read this (which I did read it in a day) I did not do any homework. I did go to class though, which is a good thing.
Every Last Breath was the perfect ending to the series. I was completely satisfied with how the story went and how the book ended. Of course, it being Armentrout, she had to throw in a few plot twists and shock moments, but those just added to my enjoyment of the book. I really enjoyed how the characters progressed and how Layla dealt with it all.
The story was amazing. It picked up right where the last book left off. Which, lucky for me, I didn’t have to wait very long between the two since the series is now finished. The story starts right into the action and you are not left wanting for anything. This book is filled with kick ass action scenes, steamy romance scenes, and of course, Armentrout famous banter that adds hilarity to the story. Her character’s banter is probably my favorite part of the book. I love how all the characters interact and watching how they react to different twists that are thrown in. No spoilers, I swear.
Layla is even more badass in this book than the last. Over the course of the three books, I have watched her change and grow and it is safe to say that I am happy with how she turned out. She is done hiding behind the Wardens. Layla comes into her own in this books. She takes action instead of letting others do it for her. I love how Armentrout doesn’t leave you waiting for Layla’s decisions. Instead of having a weak little girl who can never make up her mind, we get Layla. Within the first 100 pages, Layla has to make a bunch of hard decisions and instead of sitting around and wallowing about them, she does something. I loved watching Layla grow into this beautiful character and I wish that Every Last Breath wasn’t as short that I could read more of her story.
I love Roth. I have always had a thing for the witty bad boys. Roth also changed, even though he refuses to accept his change. He grew into a wonderful man, even though he is still a demon. He changed some of his demonly ways and reading about Roth’s character truly made me happy. Also, I would recommend reading this book if you want to see Roth drunk. That is really hilarious, even though it wasn’t for a good reason, it was still pretty great. Roth is someone I would want in my life in a heartbeat, he brings the fun to every situation. Even when he is staring down the enemy, he is still extremely sassy, and sassy people are my favorite.
Zayne annoys me. Truth be told, he annoyed me through all three books. I just didn’t like Zayne’s character. He seemed to be too perfect, which I guess as a Warden he is pretty great. I was very happy to see less of Zayne’s character in Every Last Breath. He was still around and there, but not as much, especially what happened in Stone Cold Touch. You have to read it though, to find out what exactly happened. Towards the end of the book, Zayne grew up a bit and was a little less annoying. Still, I’m not a fan of his character…
All in all I loved this book. My friends did get annoyed with me because it’s about to be spring break and they won’t see me for ten days. I could not stop reading this. I started it about 15 minutes before class, went to class, and then once I was done with class the only break I took from reading was to eat dinner. I finished the 380 page book in about 4 hours that is how good it was. I would recommend it to pretty much every YA fan. It has romance, fantasy, humor, and action all packaged into one great book.

This is the Jennifer L. Armentrout that I love! This final book in the Dark Elements trilogy was everything I was hoping for and more! Layla picked the guy I hoped she would which was a huge bonus for me and the whole story really fell into place and ended perfectly! I have had a problem with this authors NA novels, but every single one of her YA I have loved and this is no exception!

I won't go into the plot because it is very spoilery for those who haven't read the previous book so I'll just say you haven't seen anything yet! Every Last Breath is explosive, sexy, and will keep you on the edge of your seat! Layla, Roth, & Zayne are a treat for everyone to read! I am really hoping there will be a spin off like with JLA's other series because she could definitely write more from this world!

I love reading YA novels, but perhaps not JLA Young Adult...? This is the second series of hers (I read almost all the Covenant novels but gave up when it veered into idiocy) that has underwhelmed me.

SPOILERS!!!

I've been on Team Roth since the first book, but I can't get over the ridiculousness of Layla knowing she has a "forever" kind of love when she's never once been in a relationship, never had a boyfriend! The insta-attraction which later develops into insta-love is one element of YA/NA that I wish authors would bury once and for all. It's so completely unrealistic. At least in the Dark Elements, JLA had the good sense to develop Roth's & Layla's romance before they declared their undying love for each other.

Speaking of undying, huh? I thought Layla, the Lilan and Lilith were all interconnected. If one dies, they all die. So how was it that Layla and Lilith could escape death (and I don't mean Grim), but Lilan stayed dead dead dead? The fact that The Boss tells Layla she survived because her mother made a deal never to try to escape if Layla was spared death was just way too unbelievable and contrived! Layla and Roth even discuss how it would have been easier on The Boss if Lilith died, rather than promise not to escape, but then they - and we readers are supposed to just believe that The Boss and Lilith developed "compassion" for their offspring so decided to do one decent thing for them! AS IF! yeah, uh huh, sure - centuries (millennia?) of evil behavior conveniently thrown away so the evilest of the evilest get a conscience just in the nick of time. I know readers are conditioned to realize a HEA in certain kinds of novels, but the author has to at least make it believable. I thought the Seer said Layla had to die, not just be close to death in order for the Lilin to also die. The Seer also said there were no work arounds to Layla's death, so how could The Boss get around that?! Plot contrivances and lapses in logic irritate me. END SPOILER!

I guess in YA, HEA trumps all. I can't help but think of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. In the New Jedi Order series, Chewbacca and Han/Leia's son Anakin are killed in order that others may live. Their deaths had consequences, ramifications and were felt almost throughout the entire 19 book series. There, death matters. It wasn't just bit players who made the ultimate sacrifice. As I stated, I guess you can't do that in YA.

I'm glad the Wardens are coming around to the idea that female Wardens can do more than act as breeders. This was one aspect of this series that I didn't care for - at all. In their society, female Wardens are to marry young and breed lots of little Wardens. That's pretty much their sole purpose, and they can't even choose their own mate! The mate is chosen for them. This is analogous to so many current societies in Africa and Asia that I'm afraid my 21st century, Western sensibilities were outraged and offended. At least "Every Last Breath" ends in the hope that there's improvement coming for female Wardens.

I came into this series because I liked the idea of a young girl finding her own voice, her own identity and the truth about who she really is. The execution could have been much better, though. It's too bad JLA had to delve into YA tropes (insta-love, love triangle, MC is a Very Special Snowflake) in order to do so. I'm not sure if I'll read another JLA series again, but this makes it two for two that left me feeling underwhelmed.

After three books, the five-star review finally arrived! This was one of the best endings to a series that I have ever read!

   So, what was so awesome about this book?

   Where to begin? I still love the characters. This time, I even liked Zayne a little better, I don’t know why. The plot was as good as usual, but there were more action, which is one important reason why I gave it five stars.

   There is less Zayne vs Roth in this book, but when there were, it was pretty awesome, and I still love when Roth calls Zayne Stony. I really don’t understand why, but I do.

   I was happily surprised when I started reading.

   See, I expected Layla to be going back and forth between Zayne and Roth throughout the whole book, like so often with love triangles. I was wrong. I’m not going to tell you who she chose (you’ll have to read the book for yourself), but I will tell you that she makes the decision pretty early in the book, so there’s no back and forth that only annoys the reader to no end. Nope, not at all. This makes me love JLA more than ever, because, I’ll admit it, I was a bit hesitant to read another love triangle.

   I had a big problem while reading. I wanted more than anything to know what would happen, but at the same time, since it was the last book, I wanted it to last long. I forced myself to put it away several times, and it did last longer. And yet, I was so incredibly sad when it was over.

   I honestly have nothing to complain about. The writing is good, the characters are great, the plot is interesting and captivating. I really cared about the characters, and I don’t think I could’ve survived a different ending.

   It was an emotional roller coaster.

   I loved every part of this book; the really cute, touching moments that made me cry and swoon; the funny moments with some of my favorites from earlier when I just couldn’t stop laughing; the serious moments with some pretty big revelations that had me shocked; the action scenes that had me hold my breath.

   And when I finished it, I was so sad. I will really miss Layla, Roth, Zayne, Stacey and Sam! It kind of feels like I’m leaving behind old friends of mine. I’m already considering re-reading the series. I loved every minute of reading this.

   Lastly, I want to share a couple awesome quotes with you.

   “Bambi had eaten a Warden.

   Thumper had eaten an Alpha.

   These familiars were really low on manners.”

   I love every time Bambi is mentioned, and we finally got to meet Thumper, which I’ve been waiting for throughout three books.

   Then there is one quote from a moment that really surprised me.

   “When is there ever a right time to fully give your heart to another? There are always going to be obstacles. You just have to decide which ones are worth it.”

   Can you guess who said it? No? Cayman did. This scene is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book. It is such a perfect, and really true, quote.

   I want to write some more quotes, but some of the quotes will probably be spoilers, and I always try to keep my reviews spoiler-free.

   Every Last Breath will keep you up all night, crying, laughing and swooning! So go buy, borrow, steal the awesomeness that is Every Last Breath, but most importantly, read it!

This is the last book in the dark element trilogy and this means that the moment has come where Layla has to choose between Zayne and Roth! To be honest, I’m very happy that I don’t have to make this decision because I like both guys very much and they’re both great in their own way. But first they all have to survive the Lilin!

What do you do when the people who you grew up with and that you trusted, betray you? What do you do when you discover that your best friend isn’t who you thought he was? That’s how the second book ended and how the third book begins. After looking for the Lilin, a very dangerous demon, Layla and her friends have finally found him and everyone was right, he was right there. Layla is devastated because she knows that Sam’s soul is someplace dangerous and that’s the last thing that she wants for her best friend. Things are just getting more complicated by the minute. So many choices that Layla has to make and as hard as some are, Layla will have to make them.
After almost losing her life, Layla knows that dead can come very quickly and the best way to live your life, is by listening to your heart. So that’s what Layla does, she follows her heart when she finally decides which boy will be her forever and she does it again when she finally realizes how they can kill the Lilin. And yes, love can really overcome all.

I was really happy that the writer decided to let Layla choose her love at the beginning of the book. That she didn’t made us wait until the end. This way we got a romance story in this last book of the dark elements trilogy and I really loved that. There were some emotional moments in this book, like when the witches came to collect their bargain, I hadn’t seen that one coming and there were other moments too. We also learned what Layla really is. This trilogy kept me entertained from the beginning until the end. It never got bored and I really loved Roth, the bad demon and Zayne, the good warden. The second book was more about Zayne and less about Roth but in this book it was more about Roth and I just enjoyed his sarcastic comments. The Layla we see here is more mature then the Layla of the first book. She’s more confident of who she is.
Jennifer Armentrout really showed us that not everyone is totally good or bad (okay, there are always a few exceptions ;o) ).

Jennifer L. Armentrout is definitely a writer that I will read more books of.

This review contains spoilers of the first twoo books in the Dark Elements trilogy: White Hot Kiss & Stone Cold Touch.

The conclusion we've all been waiting for is finally here, and I must say it satisfied every bit and piece of expectation I had and beyond.
The storie takes on right where SCT left us: Layla, Roth, Zayne and Stacey are all at Stacey's having just discovered that Sam was the lilin.

The story develops with a rhythm that hooks you to it every single second.
The love-related decision that Layla has to take happens pretty early on the book - at the first couple of chapters-, which gives the reader the opportunity of seeing a real relationship throughout the story and enjoy of both characters being together for a longer time.

We find ourselves in places we never got to see in the past books - places we've only heard about -, and that was fantastic. We learn a lot about things that we'd only seen mention a little or not at all, and we also get to witness an amazing character development in the secondary characters, who become more important in the plot and get lots of well-deserved love from us.

The book is an emotional roller-coaster ride, even more than the previous two were. With really sad moments that'll break your hear; funny scenes; sarcasm at every page; very lovable, hot and badass characters; a couple of plot-twists here and there and more romance and more action than The Dark Elements has ever had, this book will go straight to your favorites.

Wow. Jennifer Armentrout has done it again. I couldn’t put this book down, which is really bad for a college student who has classes and homework. Safe to say that the day I read this (which I did read it in a day) I did not do any homework. I did go to class though, which is a good thing.
Every Last Breath was the perfect ending to the series. I was completely satisfied with how the story went and how the book ended. Of course, it being Armentrout, she had to throw in a few plot twists and shock moments, but those just added to my enjoyment of the book. I really enjoyed how the characters progressed and how Layla dealt with it all.
The story was amazing. It picked up right where the last book left off. Which, lucky for me, I didn’t have to wait very long between the two since the series is now finished. The story starts right into the action and you are not left wanting for anything. This book is filled with kick ass action scenes, steamy romance scenes, and of course, Armentrout famous banter that adds hilarity to the story. Her character’s banter is probably my favorite part of the book. I love how all the characters interact and watching how they react to different twists that are thrown in. No spoilers, I swear.
Layla is even more badass in this book than the last. Over the course of the three books, I have watched her change and grow and it is safe to say that I am happy with how she turned out. She is done hiding behind the Wardens. Layla comes into her own in this books. She takes action instead of letting others do it for her. I love how Armentrout doesn’t leave you waiting for Layla’s decisions. Instead of having a weak little girl who can never make up her mind, we get Layla. Within the first 100 pages, Layla has to make a bunch of hard decisions and instead of sitting around and wallowing about them, she does something. I loved watching Layla grow into this beautiful character and I wish that Every Last Breath wasn’t as short that I could read more of her story.
I love Roth. I have always had a thing for the witty bad boys. Roth also changed, even though he refuses to accept his change. He grew into a wonderful man, even though he is still a demon. He changed some of his demonly ways and reading about Roth’s character truly made me happy. Also, I would recommend reading this book if you want to see Roth drunk. That is really hilarious, even though it wasn’t for a good reason, it was still pretty great. Roth is someone I would want in my life in a heartbeat, he brings the fun to every situation. Even when he is staring down the enemy, he is still extremely sassy, and sassy people are my favorite.
Zayne annoys me. Truth be told, he annoyed me through all three books. I just didn’t like Zayne’s character. He seemed to be too perfect, which I guess as a Warden he is pretty great. I was very happy to see less of Zayne’s character in Every Last Breath. He was still around and there, but not as much, especially what happened in Stone Cold Touch. You have to read it though, to find out what exactly happened. Towards the end of the book, Zayne grew up a bit and was a little less annoying. Still, I’m not a fan of his character…
All in all I loved this book. My friends did get annoyed with me because it’s about to be spring break and they won’t see me for ten days. I could not stop reading this. I started it about 15 minutes before class, went to class, and then once I was done with class the only break I took from reading was to eat dinner. I finished the 380 page book in about 4 hours that is how good it was. I would recommend it to pretty much every YA fan. It has romance, fantasy, humor, and action all packaged into one great book.

This is the Jennifer L. Armentrout that I love! This final book in the Dark Elements trilogy was everything I was hoping for and more! Layla picked the guy I hoped she would which was a huge bonus for me and the whole story really fell into place and ended perfectly! I have had a problem with this authors NA novels, but every single one of her YA I have loved and this is no exception!

I won't go into the plot because it is very spoilery for those who haven't read the previous book so I'll just say you haven't seen anything yet! Every Last Breath is explosive, sexy, and will keep you on the edge of your seat! Layla, Roth, & Zayne are a treat for everyone to read! I am really hoping there will be a spin off like with JLA's other series because she could definitely write more from this world!

I love reading YA novels, but perhaps not JLA Young Adult...? This is the second series of hers (I read almost all the Covenant novels but gave up when it veered into idiocy) that has underwhelmed me.

SPOILERS!!!

I've been on Team Roth since the first book, but I can't get over the ridiculousness of Layla knowing she has a "forever" kind of love when she's never once been in a relationship, never had a boyfriend! The insta-attraction which later develops into insta-love is one element of YA/NA that I wish authors would bury once and for all. It's so completely unrealistic. At least in the Dark Elements, JLA had the good sense to develop Roth's & Layla's romance before they declared their undying love for each other.

Speaking of undying, huh? I thought Layla, the Lilan and Lilith were all interconnected. If one dies, they all die. So how was it that Layla and Lilith could escape death (and I don't mean Grim), but Lilan stayed dead dead dead? The fact that The Boss tells Layla she survived because her mother made a deal never to try to escape if Layla was spared death was just way too unbelievable and contrived! Layla and Roth even discuss how it would have been easier on The Boss if Lilith died, rather than promise not to escape, but then they - and we readers are supposed to just believe that The Boss and Lilith developed "compassion" for their offspring so decided to do one decent thing for them! AS IF! yeah, uh huh, sure - centuries (millennia?) of evil behavior conveniently thrown away so the evilest of the evilest get a conscience just in the nick of time. I know readers are conditioned to realize a HEA in certain kinds of novels, but the author has to at least make it believable. I thought the Seer said Layla had to die, not just be close to death in order for the Lilin to also die. The Seer also said there were no work arounds to Layla's death, so how could The Boss get around that?! Plot contrivances and lapses in logic irritate me. END SPOILER!

I guess in YA, HEA trumps all. I can't help but think of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. In the New Jedi Order series, Chewbacca and Han/Leia's son Anakin are killed in order that others may live. Their deaths had consequences, ramifications and were felt almost throughout the entire 19 book series. There, death matters. It wasn't just bit players who made the ultimate sacrifice. As I stated, I guess you can't do that in YA.

I'm glad the Wardens are coming around to the idea that female Wardens can do more than act as breeders. This was one aspect of this series that I didn't care for - at all. In their society, female Wardens are to marry young and breed lots of little Wardens. That's pretty much their sole purpose, and they can't even choose their own mate! The mate is chosen for them. This is analogous to so many current societies in Africa and Asia that I'm afraid my 21st century, Western sensibilities were outraged and offended. At least "Every Last Breath" ends in the hope that there's improvement coming for female Wardens.

I came into this series because I liked the idea of a young girl finding her own voice, her own identity and the truth about who she really is. The execution could have been much better, though. It's too bad JLA had to delve into YA tropes (insta-love, love triangle, MC is a Very Special Snowflake) in order to do so. I'm not sure if I'll read another JLA series again, but this makes it two for two that left me feeling underwhelmed.

Layla, Roth, and Zayne are back in the final installment to author Jennifer L. Armenrout’s The Dark Elements series. The novel picks up immediately where the last novel ended – with the threesome and their friend Stacey facing a very huge predicament. The action was fast-paced as the teens, along with the Wardens, try to stop the Lilin that was running amok around Washington, D.C., and try to put an end to the impending apocalypse. Aside from saving the world, Layla had another big problem. Should she spend the rest of her life with handsome, sweet Zayne, or dark and dangerous Roth? Armentrout delivers! Not only is the series wrapped up nicely, but Layla’s final choice in suitor is well-earned and completely makes sense to what has happened in the previous novels.

Layla has got to be the worst heroine in all of Armentrout’s books. I spent the majority of the book wondering if she’s just horribly naive, or just plain stupid. So many of her reactions to how others perceived her actions reminded me of Bella from Twilight. No, dear, the sun doesn’t shine right out of your bum. Ugh! The only thing that made her bearable in the second half of the book was the fact that many characters called her out on her stupidity. This made me feel better as I realized that Armentrout purposely wrote her as being dense. I guess to make her different from the other strong women in her other novels. This complaint shouldn’t be anything new if you’ve read my reviews for the first two novels. In my White Hot Kiss review I stated:

“Layla. I like her. I kind of dislike her. Layla is in a bad situation. She’s a half-breed that’s not accepted by either the Wardens or the demons. Raised by the Wardens, she’s been made to hate her demon half, and it’s destroyed her self-esteem. She also can’t kiss anyone without sucking out their soul, so that makes dating a no-go. I understand all of this, however her whining throughout the book wore on my last nerve. JLA usually writes strong female characters, so maybe reading about a weak one threw me for a loop. I don’t know, but I hope Layla shows more backbone in later books.”

I wish I can say that Layla isn’t whiny and childish in this novel, but sadly…

Even though Layla wears on my last nerve, I like the other characters and the plot enough no recommend reading Every Last Breath. The loose ends from the first two novels are nicely tied up, and I’m happy with how the series ended. I am also satisfied with which guy Layla winds up with, and how the one she didn’t reacted to the rejection. Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was how some mysteries were not tied up, but left to the reader’s imagination. Overall, this was the perfect ending to an incredibly entertaining series.

The much-awaited final book in the The Dark Elements series is here and it delivers everything I'd hoped for in spades. It has humor and emotion, suspense and swoon factor. And as always, Armentrout's style makes the novel utterly enjoyable to read. One of the things I loved best is that there are lots of surprises I didn't expect... final plot twists which make the book easier and faster to devour. Of course, Layla finally makes a choice between Roth and Zayne... between the rough-around-the-edges Prince of Hell and her ever-loyal forever crush. It's a toss-up between the person she never expected to find and the man she'd loved for so many years. But as we've seen, so much has changed in the course of the last two books and Layla was betrayed by those that sheltered her, hunted and held captive by those she considered family. On top of that, the stakes have never been higher with the Lilin running rampant, set on freeing Lilith to wreak havoc on the world. Meanwhile, friends are dying, wraiths are being formed and everyone is in danger.

Layla carries so much on her shoulders, but before she can save the world, she must follow what she knows in her heart to be true. She must seize every moment with the man she truly loves, and irrevocably break the other's heart. Talk about feels!

As the story unravels, the suspense and action escalate when truths are revealed, promises are fulfilled, and choices made in a split second change everything. My heart was pounding as I furiously flipped the pages, anxious to see what would happen next. We meet new characters who are awesome, and frightful characters that errrr... run the show in the pits of hell.

As a fan of the series, I thought Armentrout saved the best for last, with the perfect mix of romance and suspense, emotion and wit. It's supremely enjoyable from the very beginning to the very last page.

I won't mention any more about the choice Layla makes, other than to say that I thought it was well done and hopefully both "teams" will be happy and hopeful in the end. Awesome conclusion to a fabulous series.

Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious. Does Jennifer L. Armentrout know how to write an epic conclusion! This was definitely not the ending I saw coming, but I was more than ecstatic with Layla’s choices, especially the guy she picked. Two words: Swoon-Worthy! I don’t want to spoil anything for those of you who haven’t read the book yet, but I truly think almost all of the Dark Elements fans will be happy. I know I honestly couldn’t be happier right now. I loved reading “Every Last Breath” and couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome. There were many ups and downs throughout, and moments where I thought I just might die, but thank God that wasn’t the case. ;) I really enjoyed the book, and although I hardly ever give any of Ms. Armentrout’s books less than a five star rating, there were some parts in the book that felt rushed and I would have wanted to change. I know that’s just my personal opinion, and I’m sure not every one would feel the same way, but there were a few minor things that were kind of left up in the air. Not anything real significant, but it did certainly make me wonder. Even though the book might not have ended in the exact way I would have wanted it to, the beauty of fiction is that you can make up you’re own ending. And that was precisely what I did. I am so terribly sad that this beyond phenomenal young adult paranormal romance series is finished, but I will forever remember it. I loved The Dark Elements series with all of my heart, and I honestly can’t thank Jennifer L. Armentrout enough for creating the amazing storyline and characters that she did. You rule, Jen!

Seventeen year old Layla has a tough choice to make between the Warden she has been crushing on her whole life and the sexy Demon who recently swept into her life. Then there is also the matter of the Lilan, the evil step-brother intent on bringing about Armageddon. And Layla is the only one who can stop him.

Action-packed and steaming, the third installment of The Dark Elements series lives up to the high expectations set by the first two books. The story resolves the relationship issues and turns to more internal struggles as Layla faces her fears and discovers her inner strengths. Further questions are raised surrounding the true nature of ‘evil’, and Layla’s moral mettle is tested to the fullest extent, bringing her character development to a mature and sweeping end.

I do feel that the novel would have been a 5 star and not a 4 star if it had ended slightly earlier than it did. I’m a reader who likes to know that the conflict has been resolved, but still wants a little room for dreaming up my own ending. Armentrout really tied double knots on this ending though, and it ventured a little too far into the soppy soap for my tastes.

But, I still loved this book and adored the series!

Every Last Breath is the third installment in Jennifer L. Armentrout's young adult, paranormal series titled The Dark Elements. Up to this point, this series has been very enjoyable. I haven't been blown away, but as an adult who reads less and less young adult titles, I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. However, while I still liked this third book, and am glad to have some of my questions answered (as well as have the love triangle put to rest), I personally found this book to be never-ending. It just felt soooo long in my opinion. Again, I liked it and would recommend it to readers who are following this series - there are crucial events that take place in this one! But I obviously didn't feel consistently engaged as I wanted it to end far sooner than it did.

Note: I was initially under the impression that this story was a trilogy, but when I just looked, it's labeled as a series. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I will be continuing this series if more books are added. Too bad :(

My favorite quote:
"...seize life. Seize everything it had to offer, including the tears, the anger and loss. But most of all the laughter and the love. To just seize life because it was fleeting and it was fickle, and no one, not me or anyone I knew, had another day let alone another second promised to them."

I have a so much love for Jennifer Armentrout’s books. If only for the fact that they make me laugh so much. Her books have every ingredient to make for a fantastic binge read. I pondered on the rating for a bit, but in the end, there is just no flaw in this book (or the entire series for that matter), so 5 wholly deserved stars it is.

Every Last Breath made me laugh. The dialogue, as in the previous two books, is absolutely great. Layla has a great personality and it shines through in everything she does and says. The dialogue is absolutely top-notch. There’s stories that are character-driven, but Jennifer Armentrout writes books that are dialogue-driven, and she does it flawlessly!

The characters are still awesome. I haven’t made it a secret that I have a big BIG thing for Roth. I think he challenges and pushes Layla to be the best person she can be, and his personality continues to shine in this final instalment. Layla was badass, we saw her grow throughout the first two books and we got to see her at her best in Every Last Breath. Strong, witty, and relatable characters, what’s not to love?

Action all around. The plot was filled with lots of action that made for one fast-paced read. I read it in ONE sitting. There were some moments where we could take a breath, when the characters were resolving an issue, or talking things through, but for the most part the plot was everything and more I wanted from this book.

I’ve been looking forward to Every Last Breath for a long time. I couldn’t wait to see how the story unfolded (and who Layla ended up with!). The anticipation was enormous, and it lived up to every expectation I had. It had all the feels that come with reading a Jennifer Armentrout book, and all the feels and more after having read the final instalment of a series you love! Explosion of feels!

This review is spoiler free.

It was a satisfying conclusion to the series, though I will miss the characters and the incredible world that Ms Armentrout has created.

What I liked:
The series involves a love triangle. I don’t mind them as long as they are done well and Ms Armentrout certainly did. Layla decided which guy she wanted early on after she realised that it was selfish to drag things out.

There was more of a focus on the romance than in the previous books, with plenty of sweet, tender moments, which I did not mind.

What I didn’t like:
I thought that the plot was somewhat predictable, though there were a few surprising twists.

In summary, I loved this book but not as much as the first two. I loved the characters and familiars, as well as Ms Armentrout’s vivid imagery of hell.