Review: Angel's Fury by Bryony Pearce

Title: Angel’s Fury

Author: Bryony Pearce

Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
Publication Date: 4 July 2011

Synopsis: From Amazon

Every atrocity. Every war. Every act of vengeance. One fallen angel walks the earth to bring mankind to its destruction...Turning love into hate, forgiveness into blame, hope into despair. Through the fires of hell he will come to haunt one girl's dreams. But what if everything she ever dreamed was true? Every time Cassie Smith tries to sleep, she is plagued by visions of a death: A little girl called Zillah. A victim of the holocaust. In desperation Cassie is sent for treatment in an old manor house. There she meets other children just like her. Including Seth...Seth who looks so familiar. Her dream becomes nightmare. And then reality.

REVIEW:

Written in first person narrative from Cassie's point of view. Sleep deprived and barely functioning due to her recurring nightmares, I could literally feel the weight of her tiredness emanating through the pages. Cassie is instantly relatable to people like myself that use books as a means of escapism, quite literally losing yourself in the pages of the book.

Powerfully descriptive writing makes for a very compelling read even though I did find some of the imagery disturbing. You have to remember that I have a very sensitive nature [ : D ] The prose showed how easily the worlds atrocities take place and could re-occur with only the slightest of provocation.

The way in which the 'help' for Cassie was portrayed and the misuse of the position of authority was terrifying to imagine; as a parent myself you always question what is best for your child and the other people you trust with their safety. Sometimes even those closest to you aren't always the best choice. The portrayal of how young minds can be manipulated by a few well placed suggestions was absolutely horrifying. I felt as if brain-washing was taking place and it frightened me as to how easy it is to shape the thoughts of younger people.

The dynamic use of the Old Testament gave credence to the plot. The idea of free-will versus destiny was woven through the narrative adding to the layers of the story. There are some very interesting plot twists that enhance the story as a whole.

The power of sleep really is a miraculous thing - proven quite poignantly via this story.

An original and well written debut by Bryony Pearce. I would love to see another book in the series as the ending left a beautiful opening for further development.

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

Title: Passion

Series: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Publisher: Doubleday Children’s
Publication Date: 23 Jun 2011

Synopsis: From Amazon

Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword and Cross, before they fought the Immortals, they had already lived many lives. And so Luce, desperate to unlock the curse that condemns their love, must revisit her past incarnations in order to understand her fate. Each century, each life, holds a different clue.

But Daniel is chasing her throughout the centuries before she has a chance to rewrite history.
How many deaths can one true love endure?
And can Luce and Daniel unlock their past in order to change their future?

Review:
As this is the 3^rd book in the series it may contain spoilers for Fallen and Torment.

If you have read my reviews of Fallen and Torment you know how much I love this series. I mean angels, demons, the giant battle of good versus evil and soul mates, this series has everything I adore. I was so excited when it came through my letterbox that I dropped everything to read it. I must state that it is necessary to read the books in order to fully appreciate the intricacies of the plot.

The first thing that really stood out for me with Passion is that the chapters had dates under the headings; I jumped out of bed to check the copies of Fallen and Torment just to double check that these had not had dates in. Then I remembered the jaw-dropping cliff hanger that occurred in Torment and realized why there were dates at the beginning of the chapters *doh*.

Significant dates throughout history were used to re-enforce the storyline, the history woven into the narrative gave the plot a rich setting. The descriptive writing style managed to bring all of the different time periods to glorious life within my imagination. Although I am not a writer myself I can still appreciate that this must be a very difficult thing to achieve and it is a credit to Lauren Kate that she manages it so well.

The romance between Luce and Daniel was enchanting to behold although at times felt voyeuristic with the intensity of the emotion portrayed. For all those people that were team Miles at the end of Torment I am pretty sure this book will change your mind.

The portrayal of events between Daniel and Luce over the millenia; Luce’s continued combustion and how it has shaped Daniel’s personality provided much needed insight into Daniel’s personality. I have to admit that I am absolutely frustrated with the lack of answers to the IS She or ISN’T She question – I really really really need that clarified – in nice simple terms PLEASE [ ; D ]
The revelation to the origin of the curse and the loophole that Daniel and Luce currently find themselves in clarified and strengthened the plot.

The introduction of Bill to the cast of characters gave another direction for the story; throughout I was constantly trying to double guess what his motives were. I have to admit that I was not expecting just how dynamic and malevolent those motives were. WOW

This really is the story of Daniel and Luce – all the other characters are there but in background roles. Insight is given into the past of some of the characters but this is a few little snippets sporadically placed throughout; although I will say they are important developments.

What can I say about the ending but OMGosh Lauren Kate has done it again, the cliff hanger to top that at the end of Torment. I have no idea how she sustains it. I cannot believe that I have to wait until Spring 2012 in order to find out what happens next.

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly
Series: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
Publication Date: 2 May 2011

Synopsis: From Amazon

Clara has known she is part-angel since she turned fourteen two years ago. But only now, through fragmented visions of a terrifying bush fire, is her Purpose - the crucial rite of passage for every part-angel - becoming clear to her. When Clara meets Christian, the boy in her visions, he is everything she could wish for - so why does she also have feelings for her enigmatic classmate, Tucker? Clara discovers that her Purpose is only a small part of a titanic struggle between angels and their destructive counterparts, the Black Wings. And when the fire of her vision erupts and both Christian and Tucker are in danger, who will she choose to save?

Review:

Written in first person narrative from Clara’s perspective. There is no hiding the fact that Clara is part angel, the story is straightforward in its details of her heritage from the beginning. However, we join Clara as she is about to embark on her ‘ Purpose’ the whole ideal of ‘purpose’ is shrouded in mystery. What does it mean? What happens if you don’t succeed? Is it a mission from God? This is the main focus of the plot.

The writing style is captivating, enhanced by the beautiful page decorations. You know I adore angels and the imagery of Clara glowing with inner light and fluffy white wings was just beautiful to imagine. Unfortunately, these angelic manifestations can cause some serious problems in everyday life, leading to Clara’s unfortunate hair dying incident – something I can totally relate to lol.

Clara has a wonderful relationship with her mother and brother. The issue of her father leaving is something I really would have liked to learn more about. I was left wondering as to the reason he left, is there more to it, especially as her mother obviously still cares for him. Although Clara’s mother has been open and honest regarding their angel heritage there is still a lot of important information that she holds back, thinking that she is protecting Clara by not telling her. I am of the believe that knowledge is power, so the more information Clara has about other angels and her purpose the better prepared she would be. Without her mother giving her the information Clara is left to try to piece together for herself, not always successfully.

Clara’s brother, Jeffery, seems far more outgoing than Clara; sporty, snarky and popular. He isn’t afraid to use his angelic powers for his own benefit, something that may be of concern as the story progresses [ ; D ]

Their move to Jackson Hole in order for Clara to fulfill her ‘purpose’ has a mixed effect on all of them. For some reason her mother appears constantly stressed and drained, leaving me wondering what exactly was happening behind the scenes.

The introduction of other characters and revelations about their natures all add to the twists and turns of the plot. I have to say that all the characters were extremely well developed, interesting in their own right and not just in the way that they interacted with Clara. There is nothing predictable about this storyline. The development of the good versus evil under-current to the story adds depth to the plot. I found myself questioning nearly every characters motives.

Jackson Hole High School was like a miniature world within my imagination, the divide between rich and poor expressed poignantly with the Haves and Have Nots. This can be narrowed down to the romantic interests Christian (the object of Clara’s ‘purpose’) and Tucker (her best friends brother). I am burnt out on the whole love triangle thing, there was just no contest here.

Although Christian has ‘God’ like status in school is quite literally swoon central, I can’t say I was drawn to him. His personality was lacking, something I could not put my finger on. Tucker on the other hand, WOW, he may not have money or ‘god-like status’ but he is so sweet, charming, caring and HOT. It is easy to understand how the relationship between Tucker and Clara developed. I admit I was actually a tiny bit jealous of all the fabulous things that they got to do during the Summer. There is nothing else you can ask for but to be loved and accepted for who you are *swoon*. My heart ached for Clara, not being able to choose her own path but having everything dictated to her. The fear of the consequences for trying to make your own decisions.

Tucker on the other hand, WOW, he may not have money or ‘god-like status’ but he is so sweet, charming, caring and HOT. It is easy to understand how the relationship between Tucker and Clara developed. I admit I was actually a tiny bit jealous of all the fabulous things that they got to do during the Summer. There is nothing else you can ask for but to be loved and accepted for who you are *swoon*. My heart ached for Clara, not being able to choose her own path but having everything dictated to her. The fear of the consequences for trying to make your own decisions.


The whole storyline is shrouded in an air of mystery, until right near the end - BLAM – the revelations hit you like a tidal wave.

Captivating is totally the right word for his book, however if I did not already know that this was a trilogy I would have been stomping up and down on the book with THAT ending [ : D ] I NEED to know what happens next. *Taps foot impatiently for the next book*.

Trailer Tuesday: Angel's Fury by Bryony Pearce

You know I love books with Angels and the fight of good versus evil (yes I am sure you do with me constantly squeeing over angel books) When I saw this amazing trailer I just had to share the love.

Synopsis; From Amazon

Every atrocity. Every war. Every act of vengeance. One fallen angel walks the earth to bring mankind to its destruction...Turning love into hate, forgiveness into blame, hope into despair. Through the fires of hell he will come to haunt one girl's dreams. But what if everything she ever dreamed was true? Every time Cassie Smith tries to sleep, she is plagued by visions of a death: A little girl called Zillah. A victim of the holocaust. In desperation Cassie is sent for treatment in an old manor house. There she meets other children just like her. Including Seth...Seth who looks so familiar. Her dream becomes nightmare. And then reality.

Totally swoon worthy don't you agree.

Review: Personal Demons by Lisa Desroches

Title: Personal Demons
Series: Pesonal Demons
Author: Lisa Desroches
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 4 Oct 2010

Source: UK Book Tours



Synopsis: From Amazon
Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance even her closest friends and it seems like her senior year is going to be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't stay away from him. What she doesn t know is that Luc is on a mission. He's been sent from hell itself to claim Frannie's soul. It should be easy all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance. But Luc has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can't be far behind. And sure enough, it's not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. But if Luc fails, there will be hell to pay...for all of them.

Review:
As I have stated many times I love angels, demons and the good old fashioned battle of good against evil. Therefore thsi was a perfect book for me. A hot angel, a hot demon and a completely relatable love triangle (even with the burn-out).

Written in first person narrative with alternating perspectives of Frannie and Luc. Oh boy don't get me started on Luc *super swoon* having spent 500 years perfecting the art of being the spawn of the devil he is bad to the core or is he [ ; D ] An intellectual bad boy OMG Gimme [ ; D ] Luc's dilemma and his internal monologues are both funny and endearing *double swoon*.

Frannie on the other hand retains an air of mystery, pieces of her puzzle are strategically placed and don't actually fit together until near the end adding to the plot. I was really moved by her diary to her dead brother, Matt. A sub-plot in its own right, the discovery of what exactly happened to Matt and why Frannie feels responsible. The description of her visions and the physical effect it has on her raised my sympathy even more for her. She carries so much guilt around with her that it affects her ability to love, so realistically portrayed my heart ached.

I loved the use of putting smells to emotions, I am positive there really is something to that, the effect of pheromones on the subconscious as proof that it really does happen.  The inspired use of hell references within the narrative added a sense of humour to the prose. The weaving of religious history within the plot was very interesting adding substance to the story. There is a lot of information to take in regarding the different divisions of heaven and hell but it added insight into the battle of good against evil, showing that there isn't just black and white but shades in-between. I thought it was funny the way in which Luc and Gabe's appearance paralleled their nature, it did make me giggle.

Although I do think there are a number of cliches with the appearance, nature and especially the decorating in Luc and Gabe's homes, it is humorous and intentionally obvious, so much so that it is like a signpost to their personalities/nature and it did make me snigger.

The music references throughout were amazing and sent me scurrying to YouTube. The reference to the band Incubus paralleling the actual Incubus in the story was hysterical and added a lightness to what could have been a very dark moment.

One 'religious' thing I do honestly believe in is the existence of a soul. The way it was described in this book was truly beautiful.

So if you want a book that will give you sizzling chemistry, fast paced action, loyal and realistic friendship, the giant battle of good versus evil as well as truly awesome music references then this is the book for you. I loved it.

Review: Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

Title: Fallen Angel
Series: Fallen Angel
Author: Heather Terrell
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Book Group
Publication Date: 28 Dec 2010

Source: International Book Tours - thank you




Synopsis: From GoodReads
Heaven-sent?
Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael.
Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They've both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.
Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way . . . together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

Review:
Urghhh I am berating myself for not writing this review as soon as I finished the book, as I have forgotten quite a bit of what I wanted to say. I am torn with this one, there are good points and not so good points.  I will say that I enjoyed the basic premise of it.

The story is written in first person narrative from Ellie's point of view, at 16 her parents have brought her up to be socially responsible - putting other people before herself in all respects. Her parents are professors who implement eco-friendly farming techniques in third world countries during their holidays. They have instilled a deep moral code in Ellie from a young age. Ellie does however, make hasty decisions with no real thought to her actions or their consequences.

I did find the story to be slightly disjointed, as I read an ARC there were quite a few grammatical, spelling and continuity problems that I hope were addressed in the finished copy. The plot moved quite slowly and at times lacked direction, the pace of the book seemed to lack 'flow', an all or nothing scenario. It does take shape towards the end of the book which ultimately left me pining for the next book in order to get my questions answered.

The cross-over vampire and angel mythology reminded me of the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz minus the glitz. Well researched biblical references added depth to the plot. Ingenious use of one of the lesser known names for the Devil conjured up the imagery even if you were unaware of the connection with the name.

The romance and chemistry between Ellie and Michael was intense and worked really well. You do question whether their relationship is 'healthy' and I think that is what Heather Terrell was aiming for with the storyline. Far more connotations from their relationship with regards to the main plot are hinted at but yet to be disclosed. Their true identities and purposes are implied but not completely revealed, leaving me jumping to a lot of assumptions without the benefit of verification one way or another.

I have to mention that I completely detested the whole memory loss angle employed at one point in the story. The whole 'was it just a dream' made me want to throw the book across the room. But that may just be me.

At the end of the book I was left with so many unanswered questions - although I was disappointed with the pacing of the plot - I still feel compelled to read the sequel in order to discover the direction the plot takes and hopefully get my questions answered.

Review: Awakened by Ednah Walters

Title: Awakened
Series: The Guardian Legacy
Author: Ednah Walters
Publisher: Pill Hill Press
Publication Date: 22 Aug 2010

Source: UK Book Tours (the awesome Lynsey Newton strikes again)




Synopsis: From GoodReads
Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one.

Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers.
But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice.

Review:
I have to say I am a bit torn with this one; I really enjoyed the fundamental storyline but found that the information at the given at the beginning of the book was overwhelming and did in fact put me off a bit.

Written in first person narrative from Lil's perspective. She completely embraces her gypsy heritage on her Grandmothers side even down to the way she dresses. Although we have plenty of action throughout there is very little in the way of character development. I did not feel as if I knew any of the characters very well, viewing the action but not entirely understanding their motivation/allegiances. I found Lil naive in parts which didn't really fit with my main view of her.

There are a so many threads to the story; mystery upon mystery surrounding Lil mixed in with Bran's tumultuous family history. There was a heck of a lot going on in this book making it sometimes difficult to keep up with the nuances of the plot. The slant on the fallen angel ideology was engaging.

On the whole I do think this is going to be a great series and am really interested to find out which direction the storyline is going to take. I am hoping for more insight into the characters and their relationships in the next book.

If you have reviewed this book as part of UK Book Tours please leave your link here:

Review: Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Title: Mercy
Series: Mercy
Author: Rebecca Lim
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Publication Date: 28 Oct 2010

Source: Bought




Synopsis:
Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.


Review:
OK I will admit to being totally seduced by the cover on this one, I didn't even read the synopsis before I started reading it, which might explain my confusion at the beginning of the book.

Written in first person narrative from Mercy's perspective occasionally addressing the reader directly as a form of making the reader part of the story. The story opens with the impression of Mercy having lost all her memories, of inhabiting different host bodies. I wondered if Mercy was a spirit or maybe had been reincarnated on numerous occasions. The action occurs in the present with no backstory to begin with. Parts of which I did find confusing, probably due to the fact that I did not read the synopsis. I did not fully understand how Mercy could know what she looks like if she shares other peoples bodies and has no memories of her own life.

The narrative combines two mysteries simultaneously - Who is Mercy? and Where is Lauren? A Gothic convention of nesting reinforced by some Gothic imagery and the repeated phrase of a 'familiar gnawing flesh' written in italic to draw the eye. I was wondering why this phrase was so important and if it was a pivotal part of the plot. The basic storyline was very captivating if a little hard to follow at times. It all really started to click together for me about a quarter of the way through the book.

The addition of Ryan added an extra effect on the plot and Mercy's characterisation, making her more real/rounded if you will. Ryan is an interesting character, his past character portrayed at odds with this present demeanour. The twin bond is touched upon within the narrative. The main impression I had of Ryan was that although he appeared tough on the outside, he was soft on the inside. Making me want to crack that hard external shell.

Lots of red herrings and misdirections are placed throughout. The allusion to the adage 'never judge a book by its cover' is powerfully intertwined within the plot. Beautiful things/people may hide an ugly/nasty/evil core. I have to say that I did guess the true 'villain' of this scenario.

The biblical references were interesting with a new slant on the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and The Great Battle, adding richness to the narrative. The whole idea of Mercy being an Avenging Angel provided clarity to the plot. The parallels of having to do penance for past actions was combined with Mercy being moved from body to body. Only moving forward after she has rectified certain situations; saving that soul if you like. It reminded me of the TV show Quantum Leap (yes I know I am showing my age).

Overall I did enjoy the story when all the pieces finally fell into place. I am left with the impression that there is so much more to be revealed. Another addictive series in the making.

Trailer Tuesday: Angel Appreciation

Synopsis: From Amazon
Willow knows she s different from other girls. And not just because she loves tinkering around with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into peoples futures, know their dreams, their hopes and their regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where she gets this power from... But Alex does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows Willows secret and is on a mission to stop her. The dark forces within Willow make her dangerous and irresistible. In spite of himself, Alex finds he is falling in love with his sworn enemy.

Review here

Synopsis: From Amazon

Riley Bloom died, aged twelve, in a car crash with her parents and her beloved dog Buttercup. Her sister Ever survived – but that’s another story. Riley must let go of Ever and all the things that tied her to life – and discover what she’s meant to be in the afterlife. Riley is a soul catcher. That means helping the unhappy lost souls who stick around in the human realm to move on – and find their own place, over the bridge, in the great hereafter. With her spirit guide, Bodhi, and Buttercup by her side, Riley embarks on an adventure that will take her around the world – sending ghosts back where they belong, until she can finally make it there herself.

Review here

Synopsis: From GoodReads

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.

But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows, and now, she is torn between one angel's sacrifice and another angel's vicious ambition.

Go on ask me how desperate I am to read this [ ; ) ]



Synopsis: From GoodReads

The first book in a dark, edgy new angel series about a girl who finds herself forced to choose sides in the battle between fallen angels, even if that means going against the boy she loves.

When Ellie Faneuil first sees Michael Chase she feels an instantaneous connection. But she does not realize how much they have in common, including the ability fly and to see what others are thinking - not to mention a taste for blood. Reveling in their new powers and their growing feelings for each other, Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way ... together.
But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict between fallen angels that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

OK someone stop me. I NEED NEED NEED this book [ ; ) ]



MG Monday: Review: Radiance by Alyson Noel

Title: Radiance

Series: Riley Bloom

Author: Alyson Noel

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Publication Date: 4 Feb 2011

Source: UK Book Tours Thanks to Lynsey Newton for arranging these tours 

Synopsis: From Amazon

Riley Bloom died, aged twelve, in a car crash with her parents and her beloved dog Buttercup. Her sister Ever survived – but that’s another story. Riley must let go of Ever and all the things that tied her to life – and discover what she’s meant to be in the afterlife. Riley is a soul catcher. That means helping the unhappy lost souls who stick around in the human realm to move on – and find their own place, over the bridge, in the great hereafter. With her spirit guide, Bodhi, and Buttercup by her side, Riley embarks on an adventure that will take her around the world – sending ghosts back where they belong, until she can finally make it there herself.

Review:

I really like The Immortals series so was especially curious to see how the spin-off would work.

As you can probably guess it is written in first person narrative from Riley's perspective. We already know quite a bit about Riley's personality from The Immortals Series. However, her narrative voice is sometimes conflicting sounding far more grown-up than the twelve year old she is supposed to be. At times it was hard to reconcile the tone with the picture I had in my imagination.

Riley can be intensely annoying at times, the word brat definitely came to mind. Although Riley is very self-absorbed there is a sense of innocence and goodness about her despite her occasional 'bitchy' and judgemental attitude.

I really liked the storyline which was enthralling and intriguing. Absolutely suited to the Middle Grade category. The concepts were lovely to imagine; the afterlife, helping troubled souls cross over. In addition to the parallel presented with the place name and time (Here and Now) with the notion of living in the moment. The use of the name Bodhi and ensuing plot brought to mind images of Point Break and surfers.

On the whole, a quick and easy read with a nice storyline. I will certainly be reading the next book in the series.

If you have also taken part in the UK Book Tour for this book please link your review below : D

Review: Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Misguided Angel

Series: Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Atom (UK)
Publication Date: 26 Oct 2010

Source: Amazon




Synopsis: From GoodReads
After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.
As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart

Review:
Misguided Angel starts a few months after the cliffhanging ending of The Van Alen Legacy, we find that events are not turning out the way that we would have expected for most of our main characters. You really do need to read in series order to fully appreciate the intricacies of the plot.

Chapters are divided between continuing the revelations from the past and furthering the action in the present. Sometimes disconcerting as we are unable to put all the pieces together until half way through this book. When it does all click into place, the reader experiences a complete 'light-bulb' moment. The book itself is split into sections varying the focalization and the settings, while developing all threads of the storyline. It completely amazes me that Melissa can keep all the threads so completely under control while remembering all the angles of the storyline.

The writing style is beautifully descriptive along total immersion into the Blue Blood world within my imagination. Some of the descriptions of the food were so sensory I wished I could have the recipes. Via the narrative I was able to fully experience the roller-coaster of emotions the various protagonists felt.

It was amazing how all the central characters were progressed and developed. I cannot go into details for fear of giving away spoilers.  As the plot follows one angle a whole host of different possibilities open up. The story can literally go in any direction.

I completely love this series and cannot wait to see where it is going to go next.

Review: Absolution by Jennifer Laurens

Title: Absolution
Author: Jennifer Laurens
Series: Heavenly
Publisher: Grove Creek
Publication Date: 11 October 2010

Huge thanks to Jennifer for sending me a copy. I completely adore this series.




Synopsis: From GoodReads
Zoe’s secret is out. And the powers of Hell are ravenous to claim her soul. Her brother, Luke, knows her secret: that she sees both good and evil spirits. Her boyfriend knows. At least Matthias is her guardian angel again. But now Hell’s most ruthless leader will stop at nothing to have her soul.

Albert, Matthias’ father, is relentless in his hunger for Zoe. He wants to destroy Matthias and will use Zoe to do so.
The battle between Heaven and Hell tests everything Zoe has. As she witnesses everyone important in her life suffering, she’s brought to the ultimate choice: will she sacrifice her soul to save the ones she loves?

Review:
I honestly don't know where to start with this one. For some reason I always find it really difficult to write reviews for Jennifer's Heavenly series. It made me think as to why I have such trouble expressing my opinion about these books. If you have read my reviews of Heavenly and Penitence, you will see that this series has touched me on a very personal level and I think that is the reason I stumble when I am writing the reviews. it makes me feel like I am exposing my 'soul' so to speak. I can relate to most of the characters in one way or another:

Mrs Dodd (Zoe's Mother): her internal struggle about putting her autistic daughter first and the effect it has on the other children. If you remember my oldest child is dyspraxic and she tends to be the one that gets the main focus of attention, which does make me worry about the emotional health of the other two girls. It is emotionally and physically draining at times. Adding to the strain on other relationships.

Zoe: following her epiphany in Heavenly, Zoe manages to alter the course of her life for the better. Gain inner strength, faith and contentment most of us strive our whole lives to achieve.  Her ability to find forgiveness and emotional restraint against all negative emotions is enviable.

Luke: (Zoe's Brother) tries to escape from the reality of his life by the use of drugs. Again I can relate, not with the drugs but in our family case alcohol is the poison of choice. I have witnessed the struggle and daily temptation that addiction can bring. Seeing Luke overcome his addiction with the strength that Zoe's belief in him provides.

Mr Dodd (Zoe's father) the strain both emotionally, physically and financially all take its toll. The way in which the family bonds are shown as a united entity is inspiring.

Absolution starts at the exact point that Penitence ended plunging the reader into the action from the start. This is a series that you have to read in order to fully appreciate the storyline. Although there is brilliant recapping of pivotal plot points skilfully interwoven into the current plot.

The darker side of life is shown in terrifying vividness with the ghastly black evil spirits so easy to conjure within the imagination and truly frightening. It is easy to picture them at times of intense negative emotions. Zoe's ability to control her emotions and negate negativity is truly awe inspiring. Something that is not easy to do yet is something that more of us should try to achieve (especially me).

The way in which friendship, family and love are portrayed, and their ability to enhance our lives for the better is beautiful. Daily life is not easy, and it is hard to remember to count the blessings we have no matter how small. This series always makes me do that, stand back and be grateful for the little things. No matter how tough things get, you have to have faith. As I have continually stated I am not overtly religious but the whole ethos of having faith in something and positive thinking while avoiding negativity is something I can appreciate.

The characters development throughout the narrative was wonderful, all of them progressed and developed as separate individuals yet remained as a core unit. Even Abria's development was a pleasure to witness. Most surprisingly for me was the way I felt about Weston through this book. Previously I resented him being with Zoe as I felt he was coming between her and Matthias.  However, through his development within this story I actually found myself appreciating the relationship he has with Zoe, not perfect being human and all, he really does strife to be like Zoe with his positivity and avoiding the negative.

As much as I wanted to make Mathias human or Zoe an angel so that they could be together. I have to say the ending was PERFECT just ab-sol-utely perfect. I cried my eyes out with big gulping sobs, so even J noticed. I couldn't speak for ages after closing the last page for fear of bursting into yet more tears but it was still PERFECT.

To round off I just want to say that for me this is a comfort read. It gives me hope like a ray of sunshine in my life. It came into my life at a crucial point and for that I will be eternally grateful to Jennifer. If you know me then you will realise I tend to say that 'reading is subjective' quite a lot, in fact I am going to make it my catchphrase [: D] That is how I view the Heavenly series for me they are completely personal, I relate to them from my own experiences, they have helped me come to terms with some things and for that I adore them and Jennifer for writing them and sharing them with me.

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis: From Amazon

Nora should know better than to think her life can return to normal after falling in love with a fallen angel. And Nora's life isn't normal - her dad was murdered, and the facts about his death just don't add up. Now Nora's own life is in imminent danger. Are she and Patch strong enough for the battle ahead?




Review:
I actually enjoyed this book more than Hush, Hush although I liked the first book I wasn't overly animated by the characters. In Crescendo however, the insight into the characters personalities and interactions took the plot to another level. All the characters had strong personalities and were well rounded.

As I have come to expect from Hush, Hush there is a great deal of innuendo and double entendre used. I did giggle to myself at this and can complete relate it to the age group portrayed in the story.

Becca Fitzpatrick's writing is richly descriptive and dramatic making the imagery easy to conjure within the imagination. The tension woven into the narrative was nail biting from the beginning.

Tantalising plot teasers, along with a few red herrings, are placed throughout, really keeping the reader guessing as to which direction the storyline will take.

I really liked how Nora was portrayed as a 'normal' 16 year old girl coping with her first 'proper' relationship. The see-saw of emotions, along with the emotional immaturity most 16 year old have (although I am sure they will disagree). Sometimes Nora's reactions to situations were extreme; emphasizing her emotional immaturity. The reader is able to empathize to a certain degree, most importantly the reader is left with the thought that Nora's reactions are in a way her own way, attempts to try to make situations better, although this is not necessarily what occurs.

Different aspects of the plot are shown in varying ways, the use of flashbacks and recaps providing a deeper understanding. Giving focus to aspects that may have otherwise been overlooked. One of these aspect that stood out for me; was the way in which different religions were portrayed to show how their belief systems parallel.

There are some shocking twists; one of which explained why there are some people you instinctively take a dislike to - this I found very interesting.

Crescendo really is the right title for this book; I could almost hear the cymbals crashing together as the full extent of the plot was revealed. There was a jaw-dropping cliffhanger of an ending. Although I had issues with the genealogy and blood lines depicted within the plot; I was able to ignore them due to Patch's of the charts sizzle factor *swoon*.

On the whole a great sequel that hooks the reader to the series.

Review: Torment by Lauren Kate

Synopsis: From Amazon

In "Torment", fallen angel Daniel and his mortal love Lucinda think they are safe but evil forces are massing against them. As Luce learns more about her past, and discovers that the lives she's already lived hold the key to her future happiness; she starts to wonder if Daniel has told her the whole truth. What if his version of events isn't the way things happened? What if that means that she's really meant to be with someone else?



Review:
If you have read my review of Fallen you will know what an absolute fan-girl I am. I will be honest with you from the start; not only did this sequel life up to my very high expectations, it surpassed them. Be prepared for gushing.

The story starts shortly after the battle at Sword and Cross along with the start of the truce between the forces of good and evil. We are gradually introduced to other elements outside of the main factions of good and evil, all of which are dependent on Luce. It is definitely necessary to read this series in order to get the full benefit of the nuances of the plot.

The most amazing plot teasers are placed throughout the narrative, making me shoot through the pages to find if my assumptions were correct. The plot had me hooked like a drug addict needs their next fix, I needed to carry on reading to get my 'fix' of the plot.

I found the character development astounding, it really blew me away. Especially that of Luce; from following what she is told, she develops independence and curiosity to challenge the information she is given (or not as the case may be). Although Luce feels love for Daniel she does question how she can feel such intense emotion when she doesn't really know Daniel. She feels she is unable to follow on faith alone. She is emotionally stronger than she is given credit for. Her 'talents' are revealed slowly, taking even Luce by surprise at the things she can do.

The introduction of her new classmates at Shoreline gives an opportunity for the reader to compare and contrast their personalities and appearance to the characters we already have in place. I actually really liked the introduction of Miles as an alternative love interest for Luce. His temperament is so completely different to Daniels that as a reader you question who would be the better choice for Luce. However, I had the nagging feeling at the back of my mind that there are more to Miles and Shelby than has been revealed so far.

At the beginning of Torment, Daniel came across as a bit controlling. He is in the position of possessing the knowledge of Luce's previous incarnations, making him fully aware of all the possible dangers/consequences. He is unable to share this knowledge with Luce, yet he expects her to trust him based solely on the depth of the emotion they share. Daniel's character is revealed slowly, like peeling the layers of an onion. I was profoundly sadden at the thought of his having other girlfriends. Although I am not convinced this notion has come from a reliable source. However the seed of doubt has now been planted. As the story progresses we are able to discern the full extent of Daniel's devotion to Luce, it took my breath away.

The imagery and descriptions were realistic and relatable, making the story completely believable. I was wishing I could go to school at Shoreline. The contrasts between Shoreline/Sword and Cross was startling in the imagination. So well described you could build a three dimensional picture of both.

The reworking of bible stories was ingenious. I really liked how the reworking showed that nothing is black and white, there are shades of grey; IE there are always two sides to every story. You cant have good without evil, there has to be a balance, a yin and yang scenario sprang to mind.

The ending was action packed and dramatic leaving me yearning for the next installment. This is one story that can literally be taken in any direction, and I for one cant wait to see where it is heading.

I did warn you that gushing would be involved but I hope I have made concise points with my gushing thrown in. I loved Fallen and have increased my love of this series with Torment. Thank you UK Book Tours for giving me the chance to read it. One word  AWESOME.

If you have reviewed this book as part of UK Book Tours please leave the link to your review here:

Review: Angel by LA Weatherly

Synopsis: From Amazon
In a world where angels are beyond redemption, Alex thinks he's found one that might deserve mercy. Alex is a ruthless assassin - of angels. Forget everything you've heard about them before. Angels are not benign celestial creatures, but fierce stalkers whose irresistible force allows them to feed off humans, draining them of their vitality until there is barely anything left. As far as Alex is concerned, the only good angel is a dead angel...until he meets Willow. She may look like a normal teenager but Willow is no ordinary girl. Half-angel, half-human, Willow may hold the key to defeating the evil angels. But as the hunter and the hunted embark on an epic and dangerous journey and Willow learns the dark and terrifying secrets of her past, Alex finds himself drawn to Willow...with devastating consequences. Eoin Colfer reinvented the fairy, Stephenie Meyer reinvented the vampire, L.A. Weatherly reinvents the angel! This is a heart-pounding, knuckle-whitening, paranormal romance action-adventure for fans of the 'Twilight' series. This is the first in a devastating new trilogy.

Review:

Surprise - I am not actually reviewing here today, instead I am guest reviewing at the wonderful Chicklish.

So head on over there to read my review of this amazing book taking the angel ideology out of the box and giving it a jolly good shake.

Enjoy

Trailer Tuesday: Angel by LA Weatherly

This is my book trailer of the week. The book is awesome - review to come : D

Check out the official website for this book - it has so really amazing stuff on it. With fabulous reviews from people who actually speak to me on twitter ;)

Angel Fever

Review: Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz

Synopsis: From Amazon

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Exams. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about the beautiful and powerful Blue Bloods. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, lies a wealth of revealing short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters about the vampire elite dating back through time. Won't you come inside?

Review:

As you might have noticed I am kind-of a Blue Bloods fan-girl so I was very excited when Atom Books sent me a copy of the new addition to The Blue Bloods Series. Yes, I admit it squeeing was involved when I opened the package : D

WARNING: This is a companion book to The Blue Blood Series and should therefore not be read without reading the other books as a lot of the plot is revealed but you wouldn't necessarily understand the implications of events and interactions without reading the other books.

Keys compliments the other books in the series perfectly. Answering a lot of the questions I had regarding the plot from the other Blue Blood books. Written in log format from the point of view of the human conduits in charge of the repository complete with reports.

This format enables terrific background detailing and plot definition without emotion to cloud judgement. The history given of each of the central characters really helped to clarify there actions and personalities. You can see how their very long past has shaped  their character in the present.

Melissa actually starts the book with a letter to the reader, which I found made the book that more personal. She actually puts little notes throughout the book explaining her writing process and how the story of the Blue Bloods developed. It made me feel as if more involved with the plot and understand the character development better.

The reports are interspersed with short stories focalized from some of the other characters point of view. Although they played an important part in the plot formation/action of the other books their characters weren't developed beyond their role in the plot. This chance to see their side of events really added depth to their character and gave another dimension to the plot. Although I am a bit confused about Dylan?  

Melissa has included teaser chapters of forthcoming books in the series that really had me jumping up and down with impatience. I want them now.

There is even an appendix of peripheral characters and another of the terminology used throughout the Blue Bloods Series. Which was really helpful in getting everything clear in my overcrowded head : D

A terrific anthology that compliments the rest of the series perfectly : D
You can read the first chaper at Blue Bloods Books - just click the link ;)

Review: The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

Synopsis: From Amazon

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged. Young, fabulous and fanged, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth instalment of the Blue Bloods series.


Review:
Following the shock occurrences at the end of Revelations. We find Schyler on the run, choosing friendship of love :(

This is actually my favourite book of the series so far. Told in 3rd person narrative but alternating chapters focalized from the point of view of the 3 main female protagonists, Sky, Mimi and Bliss.

We already have quite a deep knowledge and understanding of Sky from the previous books so her chapters are mainly keeping the reader up-to-date with key aspects of the plot. While further examining her interactions and relationships.

I really liked the chapters focalized from Mimi and Bliss's point of view. Giving insight into their personalities and relationships while adding depth and dimension to their characters. Until this book I had harboured ill will to Mimi seeing her as only shallow and self-centred. Through her focalization we as the reader can appreciate that she has more than one side to her. The characters really come to 3 dimensional life. Dare I say, I even started to like her a bit :D Through her relationship with Kingsley we are able to fully appreciate the barriers she has created for herself.

The male protagonists seem to take a background role in this story, although their actions are pivotal to the plot development.

Through Bliss's focalization we are able to fully comprehend the nightmare she is experiencing. Her strength of mind/character is something to be admired. Due to circumstances beyond her control she is cast as the 'villan' yet we are able to sympathise with her. Personally I would like to know how she came to be in this situation in  the first place and also have the connection between Allegra & Lucifer fully explained???

As always the action is fast paced. The imagery is terrifically sensory - full immersion into the Blue Bloods World achieved ;) The interwoven tapestry of religion, history and mythology continues to flow seamlessly and adds a realistic element to the plot. There are some shocks and surprises in store, additional story-lines are picked up and developed.

As much as I adore the Blue Bloods series I do have concerns regarding Bliss in the finale of this book. I am hoping that it will be explained as the series continues.

I am now on a countdown to Keys to the Repository and Misguided Angels :)

Trailer: The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

To tease you ready for the next review of this awesome series here is the book trailer:

How much do you want to read it now ;)

Review: Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

Synopsis: From Amazon

For the Young, Fabulous and Fanged...All is never what it seems. Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question: is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force. But when an ancient place of power is threatened in Rio de Janeiro, the Blue Bloods need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high, the battle is bloody; and through it all Schuyler is torn between duty and passion, love and freedom. Romance, glamour and vampire lore collide in the highly anticipated third book in best-selling author Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series.

Review:

To use a UK commercial catchphrase 'it does exactly what it says on the tin' LOL

The secrets and mysteries are peeled back layer by layer, with a few (or more) shocks and surprises in store. Revelations cleverly picks up the threads of plot from Masquerade. These are definitely not stand alone books, if you haven't read the beginning of the series then you will not understand the intricacies of the plot and character interactions.

Written in 3rd person narrative, mainly focalised from Schyler's point of view (who we have grown to know/understand in the previous books). Schyler is so easy to relate to; an outsider in more ways than one. Within this story Sky's vampire powers are developed further but at what cost? You can also fully appreciate the dilemma she faces torn between her BF and 1st love.

The male protagonists especially seemed to gain a lot more depth of personality in this book, whereas they have previously played more of a background role.

Religion, history and fantasy are all woven together seamlessly into the plot. Topical issues such as the 'credit crunch' are entwined in the narrative adding a sense of realism. I especially adored the depiction of Lucifer. It has always baffled me as to why angels would have followed him in the beginning if he was a horrible/ugly/terrifying monster. Of course, he is all of those things but on the inside. This portrayal would certainly explain a lot :)

Reports are interspersed throughout the book adding intrigue and another dimension to the plot.

The start of the book deals mainly with plot building and character development. Quickly followed by fast paced action and drama culminating in a thrilling cliffhanger.
I was left pondering the questions:
1. Who decided on the bonds. How were they made in the 1st place. As it doesn't necessarily seem to work out for the best.
2. How were the vampire laws made?
Hmmm I wonder........

If you like supernatural romance/action/adventure with lots of fast paced action and ingenious plot twists then this series is a MUST for you ;)