Showing posts with label Fallen Angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fallen Angels. Show all posts

7/08/2012

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand Review

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
★★★★☆
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age: YA
Genre: Angels, Romance, Drama, Fallen Angels, High School,
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.
Let's start with Unearthly, because I think that is a fabulous place to start. About a year in a half ago I read this fantastic book about angels. One of the first I had come across that was an original and healthy take on a paranormal genre about a human and part angel falling in love. The book will keep your attention and is simply a great read.

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Fast forward to now. I bought Hallowed, book 2 in the Unearthly series as soon as it came out, in January. But, I haven't been in the mood to get back into that story (I'm not sure why, but it just wasn't something I wanted to read). It sat on my nightstand for a few months and finally Saturday I picked it up. And well folks, it's Sunday and I'm posting the review. I should have dove in when I first got it, it's just overall a wonderful series.

As mentioned, Hallowed is a book 2, Unearthly being the first book in the series. If you're looking for a fresh and beautiful take on celestial beings look no further.

The story continues to follow Clara (who I forever want to call Clary, but that's not her name) and her search to fulfill her purpose. After the shocking revelations in book 1, the story takes flight in book two with never ending drama, suspense, and more romance. With a wonderfully crafted love-triangle this book is hands down my favorite angel story.

I will say that I am team Christian all the way :)

To celebrate this series I have created a photo album on the blog face book page The Life of Fiction, called If You Like Books About Angels... that features some great YA Angel books and their info. There are also 3 other photo albums; 2012 Releases, If You Liked The Hunger Games.. and Other Dystopian Novels, and If You Like Sarah Dessen... and other Contemporary Romance. So, make sure to check those out for some sweet recommendations.

And, look at the beautiful cover for book 3, Boundless, due out in January of 2013!

Such a pretty series.

7/08/2011

Passion

★★★★☆
Release Date: June 13, 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fallen Angels
Format: Hardcover

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . . Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last. Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.


For some reason when I started reading Passion I thought it was the last book in the series. Silly me, the last book is Rapture which I have to wait another year for. Oh the agony. Passion felt a teeny bit long. It's set in the past, Luce is experiencing and seeing the love she and Daniel has had in her past lives.

This will be a rather quick review. I love the Fallen series and I can't wait until Rapture comes out to find out what happens to this beautiful group of people. I think if you've read both Fallen and Torment you're going to pick this one up. I wasn't disappointed with it but I didn't feel like Lauren Kate surprised me or anything. It was what I was expecting, maybe a little more My Name is Memory (which is a great book!) than I thought it'd be, but it still has our Cam and a little insight into why he is the way he is.

If you have yet to start the Fallen series I recommend it. It's a good, enjoyable series.


Book 1 and 2 with Goodreads Synopsis:

Book 1 Fallen I gave it ★★★★☆:
There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. 


Book 2 Torment I gave it ★★★★★:


Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students -Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

6/05/2011

After Eden Review


★★★★☆
Release Date: April 11, 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Dark Fantasy, Angels
Source: Author
Format: E-book
Buy it: Smashwords enter TW74E (for a limited time it's free!)
Devi knows she shouldn't trust the new employee at her favorite used bookstore. Sure, he's funny, smart and hands down the sexiest guy she's ever met, but something dark lurks behind his unassuming smile and sinful green eyes. Still, a girl can't always afford to be picky. When an angel abducts your twin brother it should come as no surprise that the one person who can help you get him back is a demon--and only if you're willing to pay his price.

While reading After Eden I kept having one thought, "this is really freaking good!" I have been so privileged lately to have so many amazing self published authors, small publishing companies and more approaching me to read new books!! Thank you so much Katherine Pine, your book rocked my socks.

It's a paranormal romance filled with Angels, Demons, and Devils. While the book has a kind of religious undertone I don't believe it to be a converting type book or even a I believe this way type book, it's just a great story with an awe inducing plot about Angels and fallen ones. Our main character never really confesses an opinion either way, I like books like that.

In After Eden we meet Devi. Devi has lost both her father and her brother, has one friend, and doesn't enjoy shopping. She walks through life with caution and reads cheesy romance novels which is how she meets her favorite bookstore's newest employee, Oz. 

When Devi meets Oz, everything in her life changes. He's handsome, dark, a little mysterious, and very charming (and he likes cats), i mean seriously what a dream boat. While it may sound like another of those "sad girl meets boy and he changes her life when they fall in love" kind of books it also has more elements to drag you under with. 


Devi believes her brothers disappearance was her fault and wants nothing more than answers as to why he's gone. She might just get these answers thanks to Oz. There's a whole world existing right next to Devi's normal life and by being close to Oz she opens herself up to danger and truths that she may not want to know. "After Eden" has an incredible plot that kept me hooked well past the end. It's a book that makes you want the sequel right away. 

Pine is a great story teller, as in A-list story teller, she will make it to the top of the writers food chain. This book is a must read for fans of paranormal romance, especially those that love books about Angels, especially fallen angels, because everyone likes bad boys ;). 


A gift from the author to all of you is the chance to download After Eden for free!! If this sounds like the book for you, and even if it doesn't you should give it a try (it's free and you never know)


Go to smashwords.com and enter the code TW74E

Also, a note from the author: there is a kindle giveaway contest at Kindle Indiependence with a group of indie YA authors. If you read/review After Eden before July 4th, you can enter the contest (there are a lot of other ways to enter as well, which are on the website).


Check it out if you liked:
  

Happy Reading!