Wicked Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout- Review

Back again with another Armentrout series!! Ya'll know I absolutely fell in love with the Lux world so I thought I'd give her adult paranormal/fantasy series a try!

I haven't read a lot of fae-centered books or series, but I have to say I really did like this world-building. It was very different from past works from her, and I thought it was a brilliant take on the world of fairy tales and monsters. This series is centered in New Orleans which I thought was genius! After this read all I wanted to do was go explore New Orleans and eat some beignets, haha! This story is about Ivy Morgan and her life as a member of The Order, who hunt the fae creatures that feed off and kill humans and that come from the "Otherworld". Then, she meets Ren who turns her world upside down. Both have dark, pretty twisted pasts that still haunt them. This series is really them just coming together and figuring out their next moves after A LOT of plot twists, betrayals, and uncovered truths.

SPOILERS!

I really enjoyed the fantastical history of this book series, I love the idea of a Winter and Summer Court of fae. I wish we could've gotten more detail on why the Winter fae are so hell-bent on destruction, or why and how the Summer fae came to our world, and how have they remained undetected all these years? I do believe there was quite a bit of holes in the plot. It was also very, very predictable. I knew Val was the one working as a double-agent, I knew Ivy was going to be the hafling, and I had a feeling Breena was the Queen. A lot of it was just mediocre to be fair. I wasn't dying to read it, and honestly I'll probably forget about this series in a couple of months, but it was an easy, nice read. Just not one of my favorites

The characters were meh, the only one I absolutely adored was Tink!! Ugh he was GREAT, he was funny, yet protective and caring, and also really badass, but as a cute little brownie/tinkerbell hehe! Then, he turns full grown and is all of that PLUS he's a hottie!! Yes, please! My bisexual KING, him and Fabian were EVERYTHING. WHEW!!

I enjoyed the pop culture references throughout the books immensely. A lot of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and Disney jokes that I thought were just brilliant. The main character Ivy was just kind of annoying to me. I really liked her in the beginning because she was really kick-ass, bold, sarcastic, and just didn't take shit and I love that!! Women empowerment, thank uuuu! But, as the series went along I found myself more and more just disappointed in her character. The second and beginning of the third book were just her feeling sorry for herself and just not being mature enough to talk through her trauma. She pushed everyone away, and was just being so unreasonable with Ren and everyone around her that just wanted to help.

Ren was TOTALLY swoon worthy!! He was kind and caring and was SO emotionally mature it was very nice to see that for a change. He was the one that basically had to force Ivy to show basic communication skills lol. He was also a fierce fighter and protector, and loved Ivy so out loud. I enjoyed watching their relationship come to fruition and them being able to work through their problems! And, they had some STEAMY scenes let me tell you, wheeew. But, like I've said just not high on my list of beloved ships, which is totally okay!

I also really loved The Prince in a weird way, especially when we find out he's technically the King of the Summer Court and Fabian's brother? That was a twist I didn't see coming and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Knowing that "Drake" was just under a very strong compulsion spell, and that he remembered all of the awful things he did and was not in control of definitely created a soft spot for me with him. I kind of want to read the Prince novella just to see more of his history and story. His brother Fabian was also phenomenal! Even as a side character I always looked forward to his scenes, very unapologetically himself. Also, the fact that he's one of the most powerful ancient fae's?? Love that for him. I really enjoyed the side characters from the Summer Court, such as Faye and Kalen! I wish we would've gotten more of them and more interactions with all of them. Faye literally risked her life for Ivy and was essentially the person to free her, but yet there was never any sort of friendship that blossomed out of that? I need more women friendships, come on.

Overall, not a horrible series, just definitely not one of my favorites! I would give it 3 1/2 stars.