The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Full Fantasy Series Review

If you are looking for a series to give you that Fourth Wing feeling but not be too similar, you should check out The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. When one of my readers, Colette, messaged me and told me that this entire series that she absolutely loved was FREE if you were an Audible Plus member, I figured, why not? I always wanted to read another Jennifer L. Armentrout book, so here was my free opportunity!

The Covenant Series is older, but being fantasy it never felt dated in any way. I started with book 1, Half-Blood, but listened to the prequel (book .5), Daimon, at the end of the series. I recommend reading Daimon first. It explains and sets everything up well and makes the world-building easier to understand. BUT it is my least favorite of the series. You don’t have to read it, but I’d recommend it and still really liked it. It is included now in the first e-book, but the audiobook is still separate.

Since this is a full series review, I don’t want to spoil anything so I will just set up the characters. I have to tell you, I finished listening to this series then relistened to Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and then Iron Flame right after, and didn’t jump to review this series right away…I am confusing the two in my head a lot, which, if you liked either one of these series, is an endorsement for the other. The story isn’t the same at all, this series has no dragons, but it has a similar kick-ass young heroine with special powers she is just discovering, a deadly training school, boyfriends, and friends that do make them blend in my mind a bit.

Alexandra “Alex” is half-demigod, half-human. In this world, half-bloods can only do 2 things, join the Covenant to train to become a Sentinel who hunts and kills Daimons (who are Purebloods-turned-demon), or become a zombie-drugged servant to the purebloods. Alex grew up in this world, but three years ago her mother snuck her away, hiding her with mortals. When the Daimons found them and killed her mother, Alex killed one, then didn’t know where to go besides the Covenant where she would go back to training to be a Sentinel.

One big rule in the Covenant: Pures and Halfs can NOT be together. But that doesn’t stop her from falling for Aiden, a pureblood. Alex isn’t much of a rule follower, and I loved her feistiness. But she needs to stay alive to graduate from the Covenant, become a Sentinel, and get revenge for her mom. Aiden wants Alex just as badly as she wants him, but if they are caught, it would be Alex who is punished, so Aiden tries his best to not go there.

It becomes clear that Alex isn’t just a regular half-blood. She’s more, a LOT more. And there is a reason her mom had run away with her. Lots of people want her dead. Seth is the Apollyon who has such a strong connection to Alex that they can read each other’s thoughts. And Seth wants Alex, but she wants Aiden even though she feels this connection to Seth.

The Covenant Series is 5 books and 2 novellas (See order below) and at the time of this post, they are all FREE in Audible Plus. There is a lot of action, romance, a love triangle, and magic. There were sexy times and a ton of sexual tension, but if I remember correctly, it came in later books. I can’t wait to listen to The Titan Series next which is in the same universe.

Likes:

Exciting and unputdownable from start-to-finish.
Never a boring moment.
Each book got better.
The character growth for everyone.
I was so sad when it ended, and so glad when I found the next series, The Titan Series.
I finally know what the Appolycon book signing is from!

Dislikes:

I wish the novellas were part of the audiobooks like they are part of the e-book.

The Narration:

Justine Eyre was fantastic. her acting and excitement absolutely added to the book.

The Down & Dirty:

I think The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the one that really took off for her years ago, and with good reason. I listened to the whole series straight through, I couldn’t put them down! I am so happy they were included in Audible Plus because I never would have started this otherwise. I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but I am so glad Colette talked me into this series!

I can’t really rate the individual books because I listened straight through and don’t know where one ended and the other began. After the first couple I was rating it 4 stars, by the end I was closer to 5, so I will average at 4.5 rounded down.