Empower (The Violet Eden Chapters #5) by Jessica Shirvington

* * * *

It has been two years since Violet Eden walked away from the city, her friends, her future and - most importantly - her soulmate, Lincoln. Part angel, part human, Violet is determined to stand by the promises she made to save the one she loves.

Living in the perpetual coldness of a broken soul she survives day to day as a Rogue Grigori in London.

But when an unexpected visitor shows up at her door, the news he bears about someone she swore to protect leaves Violet with no choice.

Even worse, she fears that this might all lead back to the night she tries hardest to forget. And what was taken without her permission.

Violet is going back to New York ... and she knows exactly who is going to be there.

With Phoenix in her dreams and Lincoln in her heart she knows it is only a matter of time before the final choice must be made.

Here we go - it's the last one and Violet and company need to go out with a bang.  And boy, do they!

I don’t know about you but I was quite broken up by what happened at the end of Endless. When she walked away from Lincoln it was as if I was being ripped apart too. Darn these stories and how they suck you in! So I was still mad at Violet for leaving when we catch up with her in London. It’s been two years and she’s been roaming around, never resting in one place for too long, taking odd jobs here and there in order to survive. In London, she’s made friends of sorts like Gray whom we met when they were in Santorini, who partners with her on jobs.

I found Violet incredibly whiney and annoying during the first part of the book. Don’t get me wrong, I’m normally her biggest fan but I was just so irritated with how she was living in denial about her feelings. I know, I know, it’s all in the name of self-preservation but the fact that she walked away from everyone and terminated her relationship with Lincoln makes Violet a crabby, lonely yet very stubborn gal.

What brings her out of her self-imposed isolation is when she is informed that Spence is missing. Knowing that he was following a big lead and was taken in the process, Violet has to suck it up and return to New York and the Academy to face Josephine et al. And then there’s Lincoln. This reunion should go really well!

It’s all awkward, angsty and chaotic but Violet has to keep focused and formulate a plan to rescue Spence. This means she has to work with Lincoln and work on her muddled up feelings at the same time. Events take them to New Orleans which becomes ground zero for the second half of the book and I must say, Violet’s reaction to seeing Bourbon Street for the first time mirrors the BiblioJunkies’ reaction to seeing it while we were there for RT14. That gave me a good chuckle which I shared with Nat and Shel.

There’s an entire world at stake in Empower and Violet must come to grips with herself sooner rather than later. All the cryptic messages and dreams she receives are only confounding for as long as she chooses to separate herself from her friends and allies, especially Lincoln.

I began to enjoy the story once I got over my frustration with Violet. As with all the previous books, there’s plenty of action and secrets to unearth. Violet is at her best when she’s thinking with a clear head and she has her friends at her side. I was just as restless as she was throughout Empower but in the end, she proves why she’s the ultimate warrior and fulfills her true potential.  Empower is a perfect and satisfying end to the series. Truth be told, I'll miss seeing some of the most incredibly stylish covers around. See?

But mostly, I'll miss Violet, Lincoln and their friends. They do deserve a rest though and then may be ... Mardi Gras anyone?

~ Bel

Angelfall (Penryn & The End of Days series) by Susan Ee

* * * *

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with Raffe, an injured enemy angel. Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco, where Penryn will risk everything to rescue her sister and Raffe will put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

How many stories about angels can there be and how can you tell a story that’s different enough to stand out from a crowded genre? Angelfall does a surprising job of doing that well.

As you’ve read in the description above, the world is in ruins and the angels who’ve descended to earth aren’t exactly the harbingers of peace.  Penryn is trying to escape to safer ground with her mother who’s not all there and her sister, Paige who’s in a wheelchair.  They don’t get too far when they stumble upon a fight among a group of angels. Trying to stay out of sight, they witness one of the angels beaten and bloodied and at the end if the fight, his wings are cut off. Unfortunately, the other angels notice Penryn and her family and make off with her sister.  Her hysterical mother runs off leaving Penryn to figure out how to rescue her sister.  She decides to rescue the battered angel and his wings and use him to find Paige.

An outraged Penryn feels nothing but disgust for this angel that she is forced to nurse back to health for the sole purpose of finding her sister. When he finally comes to, we get to meet a very snarky, dark humored angel named Raffe. Not exactly friendly yet not completely douchey. Holding his wings as collateral, she and Raffe form a reluctant alliance based on need – she needs her sister, he needs his wings. As they travel together, making their way through the chaos that has been wreaked, they learn more about each other but are still on their guard.

I was a bit skeptical about reading Angelfall because seriously, another freaking angel novel? But it just so happened to be there at the library and I’m a sucker for books on display. So imagine how surprised I was to find myself enjoying it! Penryn is a firecracker and when she and Raffe spar it’s plenty entertaining.  And Susan Ee does offer a fun twist to the whole angel lore where the angels are more mob-like than saviors with a penchant for sci-fi terror. There’s a political power play among them that’s hinted at but not elaborated on yet. 

Angelfall does end abruptly but with the political power struggle and infighting laid out, there’s no doubt that the second installment will see plenty of action and turmoil. Just what we asked for!

~ Bel

* Book two in the series, World After, will be reviewed tomorrow.

No Angel by Helen Keeble

*** 1/2 

From HarperTeen:

Being the only guy at an all-girls school isn't exactly a dream come true...

That's right.  I, Rafael Angelos, am the sole member of the male sex at St. Mary's School.  Prepare yourselves, ladies.  But while the girls here are ridiculously hot, they also take popularity, cliques, and bullying to new levels of crazy.  So I've decided it's my job to step in.  Protect the meek, smite the wicked, and win the heart of a beautiful victim while I'm at it.  

The whole "guardian angel" thing is getting a little out of hand, though.  I really didn't sign up for a weird, glowing circle around my head - or a pair of wings.  And I'm starting to worry that there's a reason so many of the girls act like they're possessed by demons...

No Angel is a hilarious take on the recent influx of angel related books.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of some of these books, but No Angel's spoof-like nature was awesome.  It was also surprising, with twists and turns I never expected.  

As a story about teenagers fighting the battle between good and evil, angels vs demons, No Angel takes a humorous approach to the follies that inevitably follow.  It also takes the battle between teens and adults to new extremes.  All in all, I recommend No Angel for it's belly laughs and witty dialogue.  Excuse me, I need to go download Fang Girl now, you should too.

~Shel

Hidden (Avena #1) by Marianne Curley

* * 3/4

For as long as Ebony can remember, she's been sheltered. Confined to her home in a secluded valley, home-schooled by her protective parents, and limited to a small circle of close friends. It's as if she's being hidden. But something is changing in Ebony. Something that can't be concealed. She's growing more beautiful by the day, she's freakishly strong, and then there's the fact that she's glowing.

On one fateful night, Ebony meets Jordan and she's intensely drawn to him. It's as if something explodes inside of her--something that can be seen from the heavens. Ebony still doesn't know that she's a stolen angel, but now that the heavens have found her, they want her back.

Since there is a lot to this book that would be hard to talk about without giving away details and spoilers, I’ll summarize it this way:

What I Liked …

I was pleasantly surprised that the description did not give away the entire plot. There really was a whole lot more to it. It wasn't just Ebony and Jordan’s story even though it was told from either of their perspectives. There were other players involved who had something at stake. And how they're all connected is the giant puzzle that needs to be put together. I wasn't immediately able to discern who the good and bad guys were. I viewed each character skeptically and it was nice to be kept on my toes that way. So it felt real that Ebony felt the same and was not easily swayed by what was revealed to her all at once practically.

The other …

I really wanted to get carried away by this book but there were times when I found my interest waning because the conversations didn't flow naturally for me. I admit that I did put the book down for a day or so but my curiosity got the better of me and I knew then that it was still a story worth reading because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I mentioned previously that there were quite a few subplots which was fine though they did feel cluttered at times. And there were events I felt happened too quickly, awkwardly or unnecessarily. But all that can be put by the wayside because it all came to a pretty intense climax that I thought was rather clever because of all the dubious characters and side deals that threw me off.

So my ultimate take on Hidden is that it's a decent read and it's a story that has potential. Curley offers up a different take on angels and the idea of heaven versus hell, good versus evil, science versus religion – all new concepts to embrace. I'll be interested to see where she takes this as the series progresses.

 ~ Bel

Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers #2) by Michelle Rowen

* * *

MY KISS CAN KILL.

I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul...or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I don't...I hurt myself.

Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him, I'll kill him. Then there's another boy, one I can't hurt. One whose kiss seems to miraculously quell my hunger. They're both part of a team of angels and demons that's joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I'll be able to help Bishop-or if I'm just another part of the darkness he's sworn to destroy....

NIGHTWATCHERS

When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

Dare I say it? Wicked Kiss is even better than Dark Kiss! Now that Samantha has lost her soul and is a gray she has to deal with that constant hunger to feed off other people's souls. It's a bit of a nuisance. So priority number one is to recover her soul and get her best friend back. Not so easy. The person who could help her most is no longer, evil aunt Natalie, and Stephen her former crush who took her soul in the first place remains elusive. While all that’s going on, Bishop the fallen angel who is burdened with a soul is going mad from it. There are also a string of mysterious teenage deaths raising eyebrows and more grays to be rid off. Still, there's time for Samantha to nurse a longing for Bishop and her curiosity about his past is gnawing at her as much as her hunger for souls.

Our unlikely team of paranormals - angels, demons, gray - has plenty to contend with which makes Wicked Kiss so much fun. There is not one moment of downtime. Even when it’s sort of quiet, there’s always something or someone stirring the pot, whether it's her arch nemesis Jordan or the addition to the team, an angel named Cassandra.  She claims she’s there to assist with the cleanup in Trinity but she has a hidden agenda. There are plenty of trust issues going on and Samantha has a hard time leaving Bishop alone when it comes to getting to know him better. Their constant I-want-to-touch-you-but-it’s-too-dangerous moments are exciting and once Samantha does get glimpses of Bishop’s past it’s almost too much.  But really it’s the dynamic between Samantha and Kraven that was most fun for me. Kraven reminds me of some of my favorite snarky fictional boys – Damon, Jace and Patch – and we know how much I LOVE snark and bad boys. He had me giggling a lot! 

Rowen definitely elevated this story and as each chapter progressed so did the tension and urgency. Introducing a few new elements shaped a story that I genuinely liked. It's simply an enjoyable, fun escape!  

~ Bel

Entice by Jessica Shrivington

* * * 1/2

 

Every day Violet Eden wonders whether she made the right choice.

She still doesn't fully understand these powers she's been granted as a half-angel Grigori.  And worse, isn't even sure she's capable of using them. Stab someone through the heart? Really?

No matter how bad things get, though, Violet doesn't run and she doesn't quit. Even if it means she can never allow herself to love the guy she longs for. Even if it means asking her enemy for help. Even if no one is telling her the truth.

The war between Exiles and Angels is on—and she's wanted by both sides.

I'm a little late to the party when it comes to the Embrace series but I'm glad I made it. Looking at this gorgeous cover, it seems like Violet is ready to kick some ass and so I happily devoured this book in a couple of days.

After embracing her angel heritage, Entice takes Violet further into this world that will continually challenge her and make her question her chosen path. Learning to use her powers and how to protect herself against her enemies are a constant source of conflict for her. She also carries quite a burden, still feeling the repercussions of her decision to get close to Phoenix. It's a situation that she deeply regrets and hangs like a very heavy, dark cloud over her relationship with Lincoln. Repairing the rift between them is a priority though they're regularly thwarted by someone else's attempts to drive a wedge between them. And the fact that Violet and Lincoln are off limits to each other only raises the sexual tension quite a few notches. 

Entice also introduces new characters who come to town to assist in tracking down nemsis Phoenix and the the other Exiles. Throwing new people into the mix adds some fun and unpredictability. Fellow angel Spence provides a troublesome distraction for Violet. I have to say that while I got slightly annoyed with Violet's mounting jealousy, I also couldn't blame her. It's got to make a girl crazy watching a hot guy you've been crushing on forever spend more and more time with someone you don't like.  Spence became a  perfect foil for her growing suspicions.

However once Violet and Lincoln get their act together it's game on! Their relationship moves at a heated pace as they work to discover Phoenix's whereabouts and what he intends to do with the Scriptures when he gets his hands on them. Everything about this storyline is screams impending danger. Violet's link to Phoenix gets more suspenseful the closer they get to uncovering the truth. And the hunt for the Scriptures leads Violet on a more disturbing journey to truly come to terms with all the good, the bad and the ugly that she went through when she embraced.

Entice is an addictive good time. Shrivington has added a new twist to the whole angel genre making this book so enjoyable. The few vulnerable moments that Phoenix displays makes me wonder what I can expect in the next book. And readers, many of you know how much I love my bad boys in fiction, however, much to my fellow BiblioJunkie's surprise, I am firmly Team Lincoln. Not only is he the forever boy (literally), his role as protector is just so darn sweet and well, hot. Seeing how he and Violet dance around each other is half the pleasure of reading it and I hope you all enjoy as much!

~ Bel
 

 

Dark Kiss: Nightwatchers #1 by Michelle Rowen

* * *

I don’t do DANGEROUS.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha – that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me … something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing – and I don’t know if I can get it back.

Then there’s Bishop. At first he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me…

Nightwatchers: When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising …

In Dark Kiss, the first installment in the Nightwatchers series, Michelle Rowen introduces an interesting take on angels and demons. Without giving the plot away because I really do like how the author has developed it, I’ll do my best to give you a brief overview.

The first few chapters were a blast because I had no idea what was going on. I love a good set up that way  –  you’re just itching to have any kind of explanation just so you can deduce who the good and bad guys are. Samantha as the heroine is your average teenage girl who lands herself in the middle of trouble because of that one alluring kiss, the result of which has led to a string of creepy events and disastrous consequences. She unwittingly ends up falling in with a group of angels, led by Bishop and demons, led by Kraven, who are working together to stop a sinister threat in the town of Trinity. Something or someone has been feeding on people’s souls and it’s now up to this unlikely group to find The Source.

There’s definitely evil at play and as much as Samantha may want to revert back to normal, her new hunger and abilities have made that unlikely. She strikes a deal with Bishop to help him and Kraven with their mission in hopes that they can help her with her situation. Of all the characters in the book, I liked Kraven and his sarcastic sense of humor the most. Really – coming from me, is anyone surprised by this? Task at hand aside, both Bishop and Kraven have their own personal agenda and Samantha becomes a point of contention between them. Even though she becomes an integral part of their mission, her inexplicable abilities have them on edge. They’re not exactly sure what to make of her much less trust her. And this motley crew of good and bad that’s been charged to save the souls of the people in this town can also be volatile at times. At some point each of these characters has to come to blows with one another.

Aside from serving as a cautionary tale of accepting kisses from longstanding crushes, there’s plenty of action, betrayal, misguided moments and surprise revelations that could make your head spin just a wee bit. Dark Kiss is a fun read that adds some new dimension to the world of angels and demons. You know something has to be going terribly awry for them to be (not so) willingly working together. You also gather that there's something bigger at stake than just what's going on in this one town. After reading Dark Kiss – which provides some answers but a whole new host of questions and problems – I'm eager to know what other bits of intrigue will be added to the mix as the series progresses.

~ Bel

Halflings by Heather Burch

**1/2

From Zondervan:

In the first book of the Halfling Trilogy, Nikki Youngblood discovers she’s the central force of a madman’s plan, and turns to three half-angel boys for protection. With the Halflings, she’s completely safe. Everything except her heart. And Mace’s soul. Falling for him could ensure his eternal ruin.

Description:
Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

The Good:

Halflings is romantic and touching.  I am as torn as Nikki is regarding her relationships with both Mace and Raven, not just because she has to choose between them, but because if she chooses either of them, it subjects the boys to eternal damnation.

The Bad:

I have been sitting on this review for over a week - unsure of exactly what to say.  I enjoyed Halflings and I will read the sequel, Guardian, actually enjoyed may be too strong.  I am torn between a Meh, and an I enjoyed it.  The story was compelling enough that I will read the sequel, but not so much that I am desperately anticipating it. 

If you enjoy angel stories, love stories or stories about the battles between good and evil (or light and dark as the case may be), then you should read Halflings.  I would put it in a similar class as Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, if that gives you a reference for comparision.

~Shel

Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly

* * * *

The angel menace has exploded, and Alex and Willow are on the lam. Willow’s prophetic dreams point them to Mexico City, where they connect with a group of angel killers led by Kara, an AK from Alex’s past. But the team is suspicious of Willow, even after Alex takes over the training them for an attack on THE TWELVE, a council of all-powerful angels.

Let me put it this way, by the time I was done reading Angel Fire, I felt like I’d been spun about, twisted about and kicked in the gut for good measure. My emotional ride through Angel Fire successfully put an end to the reading bender I’d been on for 3 straight weeks. I’m not complaining though – I’d gladly do it again!

Picking up where Angel Burn left off, Alex and Willow are on the run and in hiding from the chaos they left behind in Colorado. Willow’s now completely cut off from her previous life and is adjusting to the truth that she’s a half angel. Alex continues to be her champion and decides on a course for Mexico to contact and recruit new Angel Killers. When they finally reach their destination and reunite with Kara, Alex’s friend and fellow AK, things aren’t necessarily easy. Kara and her team don't exactly trust Willow’s half angel nature and so there’s plenty of tension and passive-aggressive display happening. Alex also has his hands full. On top of mediating between Willow and the rest of the AKs, he has also taken over the leadership of the group – and they're in dire need of it too since they’re severely lacking in training.

Angel Fire welcomes several new characters to the series, one of the most important being Seb, who has a unique connection to Willow and is determined to find her. When they do finally come into contact, it’s both a relief to Willow and a big source of contention between her and Alex. It’s clear from the get go that Seb has designs on Willow and doesn’t hide it. Much to Alex’s chagrin he must keep himself in check realizing that though Seb’s presence irritates him, he is a great source of comfort to Willow and could help her understand her half angel side. I have no doubt that are Team Alex and Team Seb camps about.

While that soap opera unfolds, the Council of Twelve descends upon earth to reign the other angels in and bring about changes. Naturally, Raziel, who wears his "d-bag dad of the year" badge with pride, isn’t too thrilled so he schemes and manipulates to secure his position. This also raises the stakes for the AKs who are acutely aware of the severe consequences for humans no matter which of the angels seizes control. Tension levels get higher and several things come to a head as D-Day draws closer.

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed Angel Fire. Set against the backdrop of a very lively and colorful Mexico City, it has everything – the love triangle, the uneasy alliances, leadership struggles, fights, tears, and loads and loads of action, twists and turns. I was seriously spent afterward. It’s well worth the read and with the way Weatherly left things at the end, I am incredibly curious to know what she has planned for the next installment.

~ Bel