The Wardens who've raised her are looking at her with suspicion. Hell is literally about to break loose, and everyone is looking to Layla for the answer...or as the problem. Layla wants answers herself, and she'll risk everything to protect those she loves. Even if the price is higher than she expects.

STONE COLD TOUCH by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the second book in the Dark Elements series. This is the first in the series that I've read and I'll admit to being a little bit skeptical when I started. First off, I'm not a huge fan of love triangles and coming into a series that has already built a large and complex world can be confusing. I was completely wrong.

The world in STONE COLD TOUCH is complex and there are power structures and hierarchies in play that provide a lot of conflict to the story, but Jennifer L. Armentrout does a fantastic job of building the world and explaining the situations to those new to the series as well as keeping it interesting for those who already know parts of this world. I really like the Wardens. Gargoyles are not represented enough in YA fantasy!

The love triangle between Zayne, Layla, and Roth is handled well. It didn't dominate or overpower the far more interesting (to me anyway) plot of Hell breaking loose, but it did provided emotional conflict and motivation. I'll also add that the triangle is definitely lopsided as Layla has a clear favorite.

The combination of the world, the characters, and the increasing stakes made STONE COLD TOUCH an absolutely riveting story. I hadn't expected to be sucked in so completely, but once I started reading, I could not stop. I tuned out the rest of the world and stayed curled up on the sofa, under a blanket, with a cup of tea that had gone stone cold because I kept forgetting about it. I really wish I'd read the first book, White Hot Kiss, before reading STONE COLD TOUCH. Not because I had trouble following the plot, but because these characters and this world are interesting and I want to be part of it from the beginning. I can't wait to see where the Dark Elements series goes and after the unexpected ending, there will be a lot of changes for Layla ahead.

Book Summary