Half-Blood

Published in 2011, Half-Blood is a young adult fantasy novel by American author Jennifer L. Armentrout. Best known for her Lux series and Blood and Ash novels, Armentrout blends romance, action, and mythology to create fantasy narratives centered on strong-willed protagonists navigating dangerous worlds. Half-Blood is the first of the five-book Covenant series, which experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2022, leading to a reprint of the novel.

Half-Blood follows 17-year-old Alexandria “Alex” Andros, a half-blood descended from the Greek demigods known as Hematoi. After escaping a daimon attack, Alex returns to the Covenant, a school that trains half-bloods to either fight as Sentinels (guards) or live as mind-controlled servants to the pure-blood elite. As she struggles to prove herself, Alex finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Aiden, a pure-blood Sentinel, and her fated connection to Seth, a powerful half-blood called the Apollyon. The novel explores themes of The Journey to Self-Discovery and Belonging, The Injustice of Social Hierarchies, and The Struggle Between Fate and Free Will against the backdrop of a rigid society where bloodlines determine one’s fate.

This guide is based on the 2022 e-book edition, published by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide feature depictions of bullying, gender discrimination, substance use, addiction, violence, sexual content, cursing, illness, death, death by suicide, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Plot Summary

Alexandria “Alex” Andros, a 17-year-old half-blood, lives with her mother, Rachelle (a Hematoi or demigod, also called “pure-bloods” or “pures”), in Miami, Florida. They move frequently to avoid daimons—former Hematoi corrupted by aether consumption. Aether is the essence of the gods and the Hematoi life force, and the daimons acquire it by draining pures of their blood, in which the aether is found. 

Half-bloods, born from Hematoi and mortals, possess enhanced strength and speed but lack elemental powers. The Hematoi Council determines their fates: Those with potential train as Sentinels—who hunt daimons—or Guards—who protect the pures—while the rest become servants under compulsion-inducing drugs. Three years earlier, Rachelle removed Alex from the Covenant, a school for half-bloods where she was training to become a Sentinel, without explanation.

In Daimon, the novella prequel that is included in the reprint of Half-Blood, Alex’s mortal boyfriend Matt criticizes her secrecy during their schooling. After she uses her combat training to subdue his aggressive acquaintances, Matt ends their relationship. Rachelle comforts Alex but warns her that she cannot return to the Covenant. The next day, Alex discovers daimons draining Rachelle of her aether and, unable to save her, escapes after killing one of the two daimons. Overcome with guilt, Alex resolves to return to the Covenant, but daimons ambush her before she gets there. The novella ends with this cliffhanger.

Half-Blood begins just after Daimon ends, when one of the daimon bites or “tags” Alex’s neck, leaving a painful scar and draining some of her aether. She fights back, killing one daimon before the rest overwhelm her. Before they can finish her off, Sentinels arrive to rescue her.

Sentinels Aiden St. Delphi, Kain, and Leon save Alex from the daimons. Aiden (one of the only pure-blood Sentinels and Alex’s first crush) subdues her with compulsion and takes her to the Covenant on Deity Island, North Carolina, where her Uncle Marcus now serves as dean. 

Marcus initially refuses to reinstate Alex, but Aiden offers to train her over the summer to catch up with her peers. Marcus reluctantly agrees, warning Alex that failure will permanently remove her from the Covenant, and she will either be enslaved by the pures’ mind control or return to the mortal world and spend her life hiding from daimons.

Alex reunites with her best friend, Caleb Nicolo, who welcomes her back but warns her that the Covenant has changed since she left. She faces hostility from her rival, Lea, who openly mocks Alex about her mother’s fate: She tells Alex that Grandma Piperi, the oracle, predicted that Alex would kill Rachelle. Enraged, Alex attacks Lea, but Caleb intervenes.

Alex focuses on her training with Aiden, though she struggles with the physical demands. Aiden pushes her beyond her limits, forcing her to improve her endurance and technique. Meanwhile, Caleb keeps her updated on Covenant gossip, including a scandal involving a pure-blood and a half-blood. The Council bans romantic and sexual relationships between pures and half-bloods, a rule called the Breed Order. In this case, the pure receives a minor punishment while the half-blood is stripped of her Guard title and forced into servitude.

Deacon St. Delphi, Aiden’s younger brother, befriends Alex. He uses alcohol to deal with his grief over losing his parents to daimons, while Aiden dedicates his life to hunting daimons. One night, Alex sneaks out to a party at a pure’s house, where she talks with Deacon about the growing unrest at the Tennessee Covenant, where some factions seek to overturn the Breed Order. As she leaves, she hears someone whisper “Lexie,” her mother’s nickname for her, but she dismisses it as paranoia.

Grandma Piperi delivers cryptic warnings—she tells Caleb that his path is bright but short and warns Alex that she will kill those she loves. Troubled, Alex struggles to concentrate in training. Aiden criticizes her lack of focus, escalating their sparring into an argument. 

Later, Lucian, Alex’s stepfather, arrives with Seth, the Apollyon—a half-blood wielding all four elements and a rare fifth power, akasha. There is only one Apollyon each generation; in 1611, there were two, and it led to tragedy. Lucian demands that Alex return home, revealing that Rachelle became a daimon. Alex is furious as she blames Aiden for keeping the truth from her. Their anger turns to passion, and they kiss before suddenly breaking apart.

During a confrontation with a pure, Alex nearly loses control, but Seth intervenes. A glowing energy surrounds them when they touch, signifying a deep connection. Furious, Seth drags Alex to Lucian. Lucian reveals that Alex is the second Apollyon, destined to awaken her powers at 18 and merge them with Seth’s. She will amplify Seth’s strength, making him powerful enough to challenge the gods.

Daimons ambush a group at Lake Lure, an exclusive pure-blood community, slaughtering pures and half-bloods. Aiden admits that Rachelle was one of the daimons. Kain, one of the other Sentinels, disappears in the attack. The Covenant blames Alex, believing that Rachelle seeks her. Alex seeks solace with Aiden, and they share an intimate moment. 

When Sentinels recover Kain, Alex sneaks into the infirmary to see him, taking Aiden’s knife. Kain shares that Rachelle turned him and is looking for Alex. He attacks Alex, and Aiden’s blade (which is titanium, a metal that instantly destroys daimons) fails to kill him. Seth arrives and destroys Kain with akasha. Alex realizes Kain is a daimon and that half-bloods can turn into daimons, which is new information for everyone. The Covenant descends into panic as this revelation threatens their entire understanding of daimon transformations.

Determined to stop Rachelle, Alex sneaks out of the Covenant. Caleb follows her, refusing to let her face danger alone. Rachelle and her daimon followers ambush them, and Rachelle reveals her plan to turn Alex into a daimon, believing it will protect her from Seth and the Council. Alex stalls, pretending to comply, but Rachelle orders her minions to begin draining her slowly of her aether.

Daniel, one of the daimons, tries to drain Alex prematurely. Alex fights back, scratching him, and he retaliates violently. Furious, Rachelle kills Daniel for his disobedience, allowing Alex to grab Caleb and escape. However, Rachelle intercepts them, throwing Caleb into a tree and trapping Alex in a fire wall.

Rachelle attempts to turn Alex, but Alex fights back and fatally stabs her mother with Aidan’s dagger. As Rachelle disintegrates, a flicker of relief crosses her face. Alex watches in horror, knowing she has fulfilled Grandma Piperi’s prophecy. Aiden and Seth arrive, rescuing Alex as she collapses from blood loss.

Alex awakens in the infirmary, where Aiden scolds her for her recklessness but acknowledges her motives. He admits his attraction to her but refuses to risk breaking the Breed Order. Marcus permits Alex’s continued training, assigning Aiden and Seth to supplement her instruction. 

Despite Seth’s growing presence, Alex struggles with their bond, which affects him more intensely since her Apollyon powers haven’t yet been awakened. Seth assures her that he will leave if their connection becomes overwhelming. Meanwhile, Alex and Caleb hold a memorial for Rachelle, Kain, and the others lost in the attacks.