Every Last Breath by Jennifer L Armentrout Book Review
Updated: Jan 18
Every Last Breath
by Jennifer L Armentrout
Published by Harlequin Teen
Book 3 in The Dark Elements Series
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…
RATED: 14+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
Foul language #YoungAdult Exciting
Steamy moments #Supernatural Emotional
Violence #Romance
Every Last Breath by Jennifer L Armentrout is the third, and final (sob!) book in the Dark Elements series. This book starts right at the moment the second book ends, revealing that the Lilin has taken Sam's soul, and has been impersonating him for months. Throughout the book, we get all the loose ends from the series tied neatly in a bow. Layla goes with her heart, to be with the man she is in love with. She finds answers on what she is. She finds peace with her old clan. And we get a resolution on the Lilin.
The Dark Elements series as a whole has been fairly unique, so originality for Every Last Breath doesn't change here. The story is consistent from start to finish, and the characters line up perfectly with the last two books (three if you count the novella). The story itself ... I'm 75- 25 on. I loved the story. My only problem is that it felt too rushed. There wasn't a moment that there wasn't something happening that was pivotal to Layla's character. It was very much a BAM-BAM-BAM story line, and there was no enough time to breathe. It needed to be a touch longer I think. I don't like stagnant parts of any novel, but this one needed some moments where the reader could relax a bit, process the big event, or piece of information we got, before moving on to the next part.
At this point, the characters have all developed as much as they can in this series, so there wasn't a whole lot of character building. Layla, after the events of the last book, has finally come to terms with her bloodline, and FINALLY recognizes that what blood runs through her veins doesn't determine the person she is. Otherwise, she is still the take charge, kick ass heroine of the last two books. She has some hard choices to make in this book, but she wasn't a coward and went through with them. Roth's character is so wonderfully bad ass and loving to Layla. Zayne is such a sweetheart, and he went through a lot in this book that made my heart hurt for him. I'm glad he has a spin-off series, because he needs a happy ending after all the shit that went down.
Every Last Breath was a wonderful conclusion to the Dark Elements story, but I won't lie, it had some problems. There was almost too much going on, too quickly, tying up everything in a nice tidy bow. I want answers, but I just wish is was a bit more drawn out. Otherwise, Every Last Breath keeps up the series' unique, action-packed, interesting, and sometimes emotionally draining story line, and ending in a way that should make most readers happy. It really depends on who you wanted her to be with: Zayne or Roth?
Let me know. Who would you have picked and why?
Where to Buy
Paperback (amazon)
Paperback (Chapters/Indigo)
Lilin: "You cannot defeat me. So join me."
Layla: "Or what? Or die? That's not incredibly cliche or anything."
Roth: "You talk a lot. And I mean a lot. Why is it that the bad guys always have to give disgustingly long and boring monologues? Let's just get to the killing part, all right?"
Layla: "I said, do not touch her. Do not look at her. Do not even breathe in her direction. You do so, and I will rip your head from your shoulders and punt-kick it out a window."
Layla: "Oh my God. I have feathers."
Roth: "Those are definitely feathers wings."
Layla: "I have feathers on my wings!"
Roth: "Yeah, you do."
He was absolutely no help, so I turned to Zayne
Layla: "Why do I have feathers on my wings?"
Zayne: "I don't know, Layla. I've never seen anything like this."
Roth: "Liar. You've seen that before. So have I."
Stacey: "I haven't."
Layla: "Okay. How and why have you seen this before? Am I going to have to shave my wings now?"
Roth's lips twitched
Roth: "Shortie..."
I raised my hand, pointing my finger at him
Layla: "Don't you dare laugh, you jerk-face! This is not funny. My wings are freaks of nature!"
He lifted his hands
Roth: "I'm not going to laugh, but I think you should leave the razors alone. Besides, lots of things have feathers in their wings."
Layla: "Like what?"
Roth: "Like ... like hawks."
Layla: "Hawks? Hawks?"
Roth: "And eagles?"
Layla: "I'm not a bird, Roth!"
The dragon was about the size of a cat - a really small cat. Not exactly what I had been expecting. It's wings moved soundlessly as it hovered to the left of Roth, it's tail whipping around. It was so tiny and so ... so cute.
I blinked slowly.
Layla: "You ... you have a ... a pocket-size dragon?"
Zayne snorted from somewhere behind me.
A heavy sigh came from Roth.
Alpha 1: "How dare you speak to me? I could end your existence before you take your next breath."
Roth: "You could. But you won't."
My eyes widened
Zayne: "Roth. You might want to chill out a bit."
The Crown Prince smirked.
Roth: "Nah. You want to know why? The Alphas could end me, but they're not going to. You see, I am the favorite Crown Prince. They take me out when I haven't done anything to warrant it and they'll have the Boss to contend with. They don't want that."
Alpha 2: "There are rolls for a reason. It does not mean we have to like them, so I'd suggest you do not push your luck, Prince."
Then Roth did the unthinkable. He raised his hand and extended his middle finger.
Roth: "Does this count as pushing it, Bob? I'm not blinded by your glory. You sit on your lofty clouds passing judgment on every living creature there is. Not everything is black-and-white. You know that and yet you recognize no gray area."
Alpha 2: "One of these days, Prince, you will meet your own fate."
Roth: "And I'll do so quite spectacularly. Looking damn good while I do it, too."
Roth: "You take one step toward her and I'm going to fry myself up some Alpha. Extra-crispy style."
Alpha 2: "You dare to threaten us?"
Roth: "I dare a lot more than that. I will not stand for one hair on her head to be harmed. If you want her, you're going to have to come through me."
Zayne frowned
Zayne: "Is it ... stomping its feet?"
Roth rolled his eyes
Roth: "He doesn't get out much."
Stacey: "For obvious reasons."
Was I okay? Anger mixed with fear - fear for him. I stared for a moment and then I shot toward him.
Layla: "What were you thinking?"
Hauling back, I smacked his chest.
Layla: "You threatened an Alpha!"
I smacked him again, harder this time, enough to sting.
Roth: "Ow."
He rubbed his chest, but his eyes twinkled. He thought this was funny!
Zayne: "More than just threatened. He let Thumper eat them."
Roth: "Hey, technically Thumper fried one and ate the other."
Layla: "Oh my God!"
This time my hand connected with his arm.
Layla: "You're going to be in so much trouble, Roth! So much trouble."
He shrugged a shoulder
Roth: "Defended myself."
Layla: "Defended myself. You can't just go around killing Alphas, Roth!"
Stacey: "You killed those angels?"
He sent her an innocent grin
Roth: "Well, I didn't, but ..."
Layla: "Roth! This is not a joke. You -"
He was damn fast when he wanted to be. One second he was several feet away from me and the next he was there, clasping the sides of my face. He lowered his head so he was eye level with me.
Roth: "There are rules, Shortie."
Layla: "But -"
Roth: "Rules that even the Alphas have to abide by. They cannot attack me without physical provocation. If they do, they tick the Boss off, and then the Boss retaliates in a way that makes what the Lilin could do look like child's play. I'm not just some random demon. I'm the Crown Prince. They took a swing at me, and I defended myself. End of story. I'm going to be okay. Nothing it going to happen to me. I promise."
Layla: "You can't make that promise. None of us can."
His hands slid back and he curled his fingers in my loose hair.
Roth: "I can."
Cayman: "I leave you alone for a few hours, and you let Thumper fry and eat an Alpha."
Layla: "Is Roth in trouble?"
Roth: "Shortie, I'm -"
I raised my hand, cutting him off.
Layla: "Shush it. Cayman, is he in trouble?"
Cayman: "I think the better question is - when is he not in trouble?"
Layla: "Okay. Is he in more trouble than he normally is?"
Cayman: "Ah ... Let's just say that the Boss is not pleased with what just went down here. Actually, the Boss is ticked off about a lot of things, and if Roth goes down below anytime soon, he probably won't be leaving for a while. Like for a couple of decades.
I gasped
Layla: "That's not good."
Roth: "Could be worse."
Cayman: "If you want to truth, I think the Boss secretly was pleased with what Thumper did, but you know ... politics. Ruins everything fun."
Layla: "I can see where I've taken some. I can tell in your aura."
Zayne: "I'm fine -"
Layla: "No thanks to me"
Roth: "Are you getting snappy with me?"
Zayne: "What does it sound like?"
Roth: "I don't know."
A slight smile formed on his lips as he threw his arm along the back of the cushion. I sighed, because I knew that look.
Roth: "But you catching a tone with me is about as interesting as reading up on the benefits of a water purification system."
Layla: "Roth."
Roth: "Hmm?"
Layla: "Knock it off."
The smile spread until there was a flash of white teeth.
Roth: "Anything for you, Shortie."
Oh Lord.
Roth: "What are the Wardens going to do once they realize Layla is alive and well? That's what I'm concerned about."
Zayne's lips thinned
Zayne: "They will do nothing. They know she's not the cause of what happened -"
Roth: "That doesn't undo anything they've done."
Zayne: "I didn't say that it did. I'm not going to allow them to touch her."
Roth: "And I'm not going to forget a single thing that was done to her. I haven't forgotten how she came back to me with claw marks on her face."
Sucking in a sharp breath, I leaned back against the cushion as Stacey turned to me.
Stacey: "You were clawed in the face?"
Zayne: "I will never forgive myself for that."
Roth: "Neither will I."
Layla: "Stop it. Talking about that isn't getting us anyplace. It doesn't matter."
Roth: "It does matter. Because no matter what, I would never, ever hurt you."
Zayne jerked back as if he's taken a fatal blow.
Layla: "But you have. You have hurt me.
Cayman: "I'd go with you, but ... Yeah, I really don't want to talk to Grim."
Layla: "Your support means the world to me."
Cayman: "I'm beginning to think your darling naivete is actually adorable idiocy. You're like the cute version of the village idiot."
Cayman: "Why worry about your awesomely superior wings when you have a Lilin who's going to quickly realize that there is no way in holy Hell that Lilith will be getting free and that's no joke. The Boss has her on lock-down. She's going nowhere, my little frosted cupcake. And what do you think that Lilin is going to do when it realizes mommy dearest is not getting free and there's nothing that it can do? Chaos will ensue, and what do you think will happen when chaos ensues? The Alphas will step in, and there will be so many of them that Thumper would get an upset stomach trying to eat them all. We don't want that. For realsies. "
I opened my mouth.
Cayman: "And why worry about your sleek-ass feathered wings when you have an entire clan of Wardens who just found out in the last twenty-four hours that you're really not dead? Because trust me, they know. Zayne wouldn't have to tell them. The Alphas would have. Some aren't gonna be happy about your survival. Oh no, sugar bear. Then there's the whole witch thing, and don't even ask me what they wanted in return for saving your butt, because I am not gonna be the bearer of that bad news bears."
I snapped my mouth shut. Goodie gumdrops, I was really starting to feel super stressed out. He wasn't done.
Cayman: "And why stress over wings in general when you're going to break someone's heart?"
Layla: "What?"
Cayman popped off the bar stool, all grins.
Cayman: "Let's stop playing around, my own personal Beanie Baby. Zayne's in love with you. Roth's in love with you."
I inhaled sharply, but the air caught in my throat
Cayman: "Both would do anything for you - live, breathe and die for you, but you can't have both of them, Layla."
My hands fell to my thighs and I whispered, "I know that."
Cayman: "And you know which one is the real deal. You know, the forever kind of love, so why are you dragging this shit out?"
Layla: "I'm not dragging anything out. I was kind of out of it, you know, what with the whole being held prisoner and then nearly killed by my own clan thing. Then I was holed up here recovering, and then yesterday happened. And maybe I don't think it's the right time for me to be with either of them. Did you ever think about that?"
Cayman: "When is there ever a right time to fully give your heart to another? There are always going to be obstacles. You just have to decide which ones are worth it."
Layla: "Whatever."
Cayman: "Don't be a coward."
Layla: "Excuse me?"
Cayman: "A. Coward. Not making a choice is the coward's way out. You love both of them. I get that. But you don't feel the same kind of love for both of them, and the sooner you accept that, the better."
Layla: "Why are we talking about this again? And why do you even care?"
Cayman: "Because I'm a caring sort of demon."
Layla: "Ugh. You can be so annoying."
Cayman: "Don't hate. Procreate."
Now I just glared at him.
Cayman: "Procreate with the right guy. Just wanted to clarify that."
Layla: "Oh my God."
Roth: "What in the world are you doing, Shortie?"
Layla: "I was ... I was thinking. Thinking about stuff."
Roth: "Was the countertop helping you think about stuff?"
Layla: "Maybe."
Roth: "That's an odd way to do some thinking, Shortie."
Layla: "I don't think you give yourself enough credit, Roth."
Roth: "I know what I am."
Cayman: "Don't wander off. You have Alphas and who knows what else potentially gunning for your ass. And I really don't want to go back to the house and have to explain to Roth that I lost you somehow."
Layla: "Yes, Dad."
He grinned
Cayman: "Do me proud."
Cayman: "Stop being a coward and let go of the past. Embrace the future, because they are two very different things."
Layla: "We could have made it work without ... without the kissing and we could've been careful. And I trust you, but this isn't about trust. Zayne, you're important to me, and I -"
Zayne: "You love Roth. You're in love with him."
My eyes met his bright blue ones
Layla: "Yes. It's him. It's always been him. I'm sorry. I do love you. I care about you so much, and in so many ways, being with you was a dream come true, but it's not the same."
He drew back, as if I'd reached across the table and slapped him.
Zayne: "Please don't expect me to sit here and listen to a speech that makes me feel like a damn runner-up in some kind of contest."
I sucked in a sharp breath
Layla: "That's not how I want you to feel."
Zayne's brows lowered as he stared at me.
Zayne: "How in the Hell did you expect me to feel?"
Tears burned the back of my eyes, because I'd never, ever, wanted to hurt anyone. Especially not him.
Layla: "I don't know."
I hadn't been careful with my own actions or with his heart. I didn't regret anything we shared, but I'd messed up and I shouldn't have allowed myself to get involved with him, because what I'd said a few moments ago had also been true.
It had always been Roth; from the moment he swaggered into that damn alley where I'd been unsuccessfully fighting off a demon, it had been him for me.
One second I was standing there and within the next breath, my back was against the door. A hard, warm and very bare chest was flush with mine, and hot breath skated over my cheek as two hands hit the door, on either side of my head.
Roth: "What are you doing here?"
My heart slammed against my ribs, then doubled its beat as his lips brushed the curve of my jaw. He inhaled deeply.
Roth: "Hell, you smell good. Like peppermint and ... and the sun. I let you go."
He went on, dipping his neck into my neck, and a shiver swept through me
Roth: "You were right yesterday. I hurt you. Not like him. Worse. I let you walk out of this house so you could be happy with him. Wasn't that what you wanted? Bit you're here. I let you go and it killed me to do so, and you're here."
He slowly lifted his chin and rested his forehead against mine.
Roth: "Why are you here, Layla?"
Layla: "I'm here ... I'm here because this is where I'm happy, with you."
Roth: "I want to kiss you again."
Layla: "As you pointed out, you're drunk."
Roth: "I still want to kiss you. I want to do other things. A lot of it involves touching, with and without clothes."
My cheeks heated. Tipping his head back, he sighed heavily.
Roth: "But yeah, drunk. Sorry."
Layla: "Roth. How long have you been drinking?"
Roth: "Since you left? If I didn't, I would've gone after you and possibly let Thumper eat Stony, and you wouldn't be okay with that."
Layla: "No. I wouldn't be."
Roth: "Aaand I might be a little drunk still..."
Layla: "I'll say."
Roth: "I know I shouldn't be drinking. It makes me a naughty, naughty boy."
Roth: "It's not in my genetic makeup to feel guilt. Not until you. Now I think about these things and I wonder if there is any ... goodness in me. Or what you could possibly see."
Leaning down, I kissed his cheek, and as I straightened, he turned wide amber eyes on me.
Layla: "I see what you don't. You're not selfish, even if you have moments of acting like it. We all do. You're not evil, even if you were created by the greatest evil of them all. You've proven to me and yourself that you have free will, and you've made the right decisions time and time again. You've accepted who and what I am from the beginning. You've never tried to chance me or ... or hide me. You've always trusted me, even when you probably shouldn't have. You've ... you've celebrated what I am, and very few can claim that. Like I've said before, you're more than the latest Crown Prince. You're Roth."
Roth: "And I'm yours."
Layla: "You know I love Zayne. Always have and will, but Roth? He's ..."
Stacey: "He's the one."
Layla: "Yeah. As much as he annoys the ever-loving crud out of me, I kind of love that he does."
Roth: "I have to admit, waking up and find you in my bed was a pleasant surprise."
Layla: "It was?"
Roth: "Yeah. When I woke up, I realized I'd never done that before. Not with you. Not with anyone. I always ... I liked it so much that now I'm spoiled. One morning and I'm spoiled for life. I want you here every morning, with me. Well, maybe in the master bedroom. That bed is more comfortable."
Layla: "I thought this bed was nice."
Roth: "Because I was in it?"
Layla: "Wow. Good to see your ego is still functioning normally."
Roth: "Can we do something?"
My fingers stopped on the first tightly rolled ab
Layla: "Um."
Roth: "Dirty girl, get your mind out of the gutter. I wasn't talking about that stuff. Yet. What I meant was, can we start last night over?"
Layla: "How so?"
Roth: "I was plastered, but I think you told me you wanted to be with me, and well, I want to hear you say that again."
My heart did a backflip and I tilted my head back, so that our mouths were close.
Layla: "I want to be here with you. I want to be with you."
Roth pressed his forehead against mine as he rolled slightly onto his back, bringing me with him. I ended up lying half on him. But I wasn't done. Staring into eyes that were as bright and beautiful as any tawny jewel, I said what I had never said before. And I said it with every ounce of my being behind it.
Layla: "I love you, Roth. I'm in love with you."
Roth shifted again. This time I was on my back and he was above me, his one leg thrust between mine and his hand still cradling my neck.
Roth: "Say it one more time."
Layla: "I love you. I love you."
And I said it again and again, until I couldn't say it anymore, because he's silenced me with his mouth.
Roth: "I covet you like any good demon would. And my desire for you increases every waking second in a way that should frighten me, but really just excites me. But most of all, I love you. I, Astaroth, Crown Prince of Hell, am in love with you, Layla Shaw. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. A hundred decades from now, I will till be in love with you, and it will be as fierce today as it will be a decade later."
Roth: "Beautiful. You are so beautiful, Layla. And if I could pick one thing I could stare at for the rest of eternity, it would be you. It would always be you.
Roth: "I think we need to get you a tattoo."
Layla: "A ... a tattoo?"
Roth: "Yeah. A familiar,"
He kissed just above my belly button
Layla: "I can do that?"
Roth: "I don't see why not, and I know who can do one for you. This would be a good spot."
He dragged his hand over the side of my ribs.
Roth: "Or here?"
That same hand made it's way under the band of my pajama bottoms and curled around my hip.
Roth: "I really like the idea of it being here."
Layla: "Does it really matter where it's inked on? It's going to move anyway, right?"
Roth: "Oh, it matters. Mostly just matters to me."
I laughed
Layla: "Okay then."
Roth: "I want an eternity of mornings like this. An eternity."
Cayman: "So, what's on the menu today, kids?"
Roth's slow grin sent fire across my cheeks as he cast a long glance in my direction. He opened his mouth, but the look I sent him promised murder if he answered that question the way I thought he might.
Someone cleared his throat and Cayman groaned
Cayman: "Really guys?
Roth: "What?"
Cayman: "While I'm glad you guys have decided to become the twosome of the year, I really don't want to see you sucking face. It does things to my indigestion. Bad things."
Roth: "Guess what?"
Layla: "What?"
Roth: "If you behave yourself today, I have a surprise for you later."
Layla: "If I behave myself?"
Roth: "Uh-huh. And by behaving yourself, I mean being as naughty as you can possibly be."
Roth: "You didn't bring a jacket?"
I shook my head
Roth: "A scarf?"
Layla: "No."
Roth: "What about mittens?"
Layla: "Nope."
Roth: "What about a little beanie for your little head?"
I laughed
Layla: "No, Dad. I'm fine."
Roth: "I like it when you call me -"
Layla: "Stop."
My steps suddenly felt lighter, and I wanted to stop in the middle of the sidewalk, grab Roth's face and plant one on him. How many times had I wanted him to do that before? Even when I'd been pushing him away, I'd wanted him. Now he was mine.
Roth: "Layla? What are you smiling about? Not that I'm complaining. That's a freaking beautiful smile, and it makes me -"
I did what I wanted to do.
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, I ignored the harsh glances in our direction, and no one said a thing to us after receiving one look from Roth. I stretched on the tips of my toes. With my free hand wrapped around the nape of his neck, I guided his head down. Surprise flickered across his face, and then I closed my eyes, pressing my mouth to his. The kiss was brief, but when I pulled away, his expression made my day.
He stared down at me, his eyes wide, and the pupils slightly dilated. His lips were parted and that bolt in his tongue glittered. The tops oh his cheekbones were flushed. He looked ... He looked gobsmacked.
Roth: "What ... What was that for?"
Layla: "Just because ... well, there were many times that I secretly wished you'd done that in the past, and I thought, why can't I?"
Roth: "I just want you to know that whenever you feel the need to do that, you do it. I don't care what we're doing, I'm always going to be down for that. Always."
Roth: "Okay. You're crazy, but that was also crazy hot. Just thought I'd share that with you."
Layla: "Hello, Dad."
Elijah: "Do not call me that."
Layla: "Why? You're my father."
One of the other Wardens, a tall, dark-haired man, glanced at Elijah questioningly. Did they not know? A horrible smile pulled at my lips and it was without any warmth. Instead, it was full of scorn and seventeen years of wondering.
Layla: "Yeah, maybe you remember how you hooked up with Lilith - the Lilith -"
Elijah: "Shut up."
A low grumble of warning rumbled from Roth as a blast of heat rolled off him, but my smile, it spread.
Layla: "And the two of you produced little old me. What? You didn't think I knew?"
Two of the Wardens behind him exchanged uncertain looks
Layla: "What? They didn't know?"
Elijah: "That doesn't matter."
Layla: "It doesn't? You boinked Lilith."
Roth: "Boinked? God, I love you."
Layla: "Don't try to act like you know anything about love. You're no better than me, and you're sure as Hell no better than him. He's a thousand times better than you could ever hope to be."
Elijah snorted
Elijah: "Him? A demon? You are -"
Layla: "He's the Crown Prince. Not just a demon. But even if he was merely a Fiend, he'd still be too good for the likes of you."
Roth: "That's my girl."
Elijah: "I should've known the moment that bitch left you with me that you weren't right. You'd be just like the whore -"
Roth: "Proceed very carefully with what you're about to say. That's my girl you're about to insult, and I'm not going to be happy about that. At all."
Layla: "Whatever. Same stuff. Different day. Try something new next time."
Elijah: "I cannot say I'm surprised to find you with a demon."
Roth: "I cannot say I'm surprised to find you're just as ugly as your son. Oh, wait. Dead son. My bad."
Elijah: "Do not speak of my son."
Roth: "I won't speak of him, only because he's worse than the scum that lines the streets below. But do you want to know what I did with his spine after I tore it from his body?"
Throwing a punch that would make a boxer proud, I cold-cocked Elijah in the jaw, snapping his head back. Pain burst across my hand, but I ignored it as I looked up, meeting Roth's gaze.
Roth: "Damn. Still hot as Hell."
Layla: "What do you want to do when this is all over?"
Roth: "For real? I can't believe you even have to ask that. I plan to be wherever you are."
Roth: "We confronted them and they attacked."
Layla: "He still wants me dead. Nothing new there."
Zayne glanced in my direction, but didn't make eye contact.
Zayne: "So what happened?"
Roth: "Well, Bambi ate one of the Wardens. So kind of not sorry about that. I sort of put another out of commission. Permanently. Self-defense. I swear."
Nicolai: "I'm sure of that."