Review: Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath
Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.
Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.
Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Publishes in US: July 28th 2015 by Harlequin Teen
Genre: ya paranormal
Source: bought
Series? Yes. The Dark Elements #3

My series reviews:

#.5 Bitter Sweet Love
#1 White Hot Kiss
#2 Stone Cold Touch

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     I wanted to read Every Last Breath because I adore Jennifer's writing. I love her snarky sense of humor, the ability to draw me into her worlds, connect with the main characters, fall in love with her swoony guys, and always want more. I read the first ones and the novella and love her take on gargoyles, as well as really connecting and feeling for the spot that Layla the main character in this one. She lives in a world of Wardens (the full gargoyles) and Roth, who is an upper level demon, but yet he is so attentive and protective of her and even sacrificed himself for her. Then there is Zayne, who she has always been close to and had a crush on, and it's past time for her to make the choice between them. Layla discovers a lot about herself in this one and begins questioning her label as a hybrid-- half warden and half demon.

    Layla of course had to make her choice between the two boys in her life, that she loves, and realizes loves her back. I was nervous of which one it was going to be, and her reasoning. I really liked them both, they cared for her, and risked their own life and standings with their respective species/bosses. Each are right for her in their own ways, but for me there was one that stood ahead, but I was determined to support her either way. 

   It did give the other guy a real glimpse of possibilities of moving on and being happy, accepting Layla's decision in good graces and not ostracizing her. But I think the the choice she made was for good reasons, and I love seeing that develop even more. Into really steamy levels that made me sigh. 

    On top of the boy situation, Layla also had to deal with the Lillin, and the fall out from who the Lillin stole a soul from, and how much that hurt her and Stacey. There was a lot of grief for a friend lost as well as part of his family that got caught in the cross fire. It became even more complicated than I could have imagined, but it added depth. 

   I liked the overall resolution including the little glimpse of the beginning of their HEA in the 6 months later. It was neat to see how far all of the characters have come from the start of the series. Layla learned so much about herself, and realized that the labels defining good and evil wasn't black and white. She saw some of the greatest acts of compassion from demons, and some that were on the side of good be intolerant and cruel. 

Bottom Line: Great conclusion with all the things I've come to expect and love from Jennifer.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you pick a demon as your love?