Sparkles and Lightning

*****FINAL RATING: 4.70 STARS*****CATCHALLDeity is easily the best Covenant book so far. What's not to love? Greek mythology, a sexy love interest, and some serious kickbutt action. I absolutely adored this book and found it completely unputdownable. We're over halfway through the series now, and it always seems to go in precisely the right direction.THE HEROINEALEXAlex is still the same girl we all know and love. She's torn between her feelings and a bit lost. Sometimes she lashes out to hide her pain, or her fear, displaying her weaknesses in a way that matches her personality. She can be sweet when she feels like it, but a lot of the time she has an attitude that fits her. And I love her for it. She isn't afraid to stand up for herself, but she'll do anything to protect those she loves.THE LOVE INTERESTSAIDENAiden is gorgeous and perfect, and there's no way I could read this series and not be hopelessly in love with him. He's the one Alex always comes back to, steady and secure and strong. Though he's always fought his feelings, tried to do the right thing, he struggles with that now. And I just love and protective he is without being smothering, and how he always, always tries to make the right choice.SETHSeth is hiding more things than anyone ever realized. He's ruthlessly ambitious, and I believe that although maybe he once cared about Alex, something blinded him along the way. Though I've never really liked him, it was still tragic to watch him go through his transformation. I didn't want things to be this way for him, but maybe he still has some sort of shot at redemption.THE PLOTThings have always been complicated in Alex's world, but nothing like this has ever happened before.I love that as Alex figures things out, so do we. There's a certain level of suspense that I love. And, best of all, there aren't stupid things she misses, and though some things are a bit coincidental I never felt that it got to be too much. I also liked the slow unearth of information, and how difficult it was for Alex. Nothing is ever easy.The Greek mythology worked into the story is gorgeous as always and hasn't suddenly become ignored which I have seen happen in books before. It's a major part of the story still and factors into every important event.The pacing is also awesome. It doesn't rush, it doesn't lag. It's fast-paced without feeling too fast, and it doesn't drag things out like some books do. I always felt like something interesting was going on and that the plot was really developing.And, in this third book, things really took a turn I did not expect. But I loved it.THE ROMANCEOne of the things I love about Jennifer's romance in both her Covenant and Lux series is that she doesn't drag things out for a ridiculous length of time. The love triangle felt essentially resolved to me in this one, a fact I was very pleased with. Aiden stands by Alex through everything, wanting to let her be herself, while Seth attempts to lure her to his side and bend her to his will. Both boys want her, but only one will win her heart.THE WRITINGJennifer has gorgeous writing, and it's gotten better with each book she writes. I don't know how she pumps these things out so quickly, but she does, and they're amazing. Deity is set in such a harsh world of demigods, fully fleshed out but still with some mystery behind everything. Alex's voice has only become more mature as she learns her lessons and works her way through this complicated and power-hungry place.THE ENDINGMajor cliffhangers always get me, but even when I know they're coming I can never help myself. Deity left me dying to know what happens next. Alex is stuck in a very unusual position, with everyone scrambling to save her. But Alex doesn't believe she needs saving. It's a bit tragic, but mostly just suspenseful.WRAPUPUhhh, yeah, of course I'm continuing this series. I admit that it has its faults, but I simply find it so much fun that I'm not willing to stop reading it. I definitely need to know what happens next and do love Jennifer and her books. I'd recommend this to most people who love paranormal romance, particularly those of you who love Greek mythology the way I do.FINE.Find more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!