Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements, #0.5)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

[Angie]

Bitter Sweet Love was a nice introduction to the series. We get a bit of background on the current state of the world. The most important bit being that gargoyles are no longer the things of legend. Humans now know about them, and are living among them. They're not exactly accepted by everyone, but they're not secrets any longer. There's also quite a bit about the gargoyle mating system and their culture in general. It's another one of those "sexist for your own good" type of societies, where women aren't allowed to do anything except choose if they mate or not. It's nothing too original, but I'm liking the gargoyles as a species. They're interesting.

Bitter Sweet Love also has a brief introduction to Layla, who is the main character of the series. She's unusual even among her kind and isn't welcome or accepted because she's half demon. She can also steal souls, which obviously no one wants to have done to them! It's not like she's going around threatening anyone, and she has to be close enough to kiss in order to even do it, but that doesn't stop anyone from being afraid of her. Even Jasmine was standoffish with her at first until she got to her know her. All in all, I think this was a good short story that packed in a lot of information that I'm happy to have known before going into the first book.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.