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greenmind's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
When I heard that the book in the April bookboxclub box would be about fallen angels, I was already enthusiast. Angels are my thing. I love all the possible mythologies and who they are and can be. And this book doesn't disappoint at all!
The book is quite original, which is an achievement within this genre. The mythology is one I haven't seen before, the angel is nothing I've ever encountered in books before and the characters are so adorable and cute. I've really enjoyed this story from start to finish and I even shed a few tears when I eventually reached the very end.
On top of the story being adorable and the characters being very likable, the story is written in a very pleasant style. I could turn the pages quickly and I was really sucked into the story.
My one complaint is that I think the story could have been more detailed and therefore longer. I think this pace might be perfect for most people, but I've come to like it when there is more time for every emotion and important moment. But, even though the book is fast paced and could have been slower, the story really touched me. I'm also still a little torn if I wanted more answers or am satisfied with not getting all of them, because the answers were absolutely not what this story was about.
If you love fallen angels, if you love cute, but not overwhelmingly present, love stories and if you want to meet some really amazing characters: This is absolutely your book, so make sure to pick it up!
The book is quite original, which is an achievement within this genre. The mythology is one I haven't seen before, the angel is nothing I've ever encountered in books before and the characters are so adorable and cute. I've really enjoyed this story from start to finish and I even shed a few tears when I eventually reached the very end.
On top of the story being adorable and the characters being very likable, the story is written in a very pleasant style. I could turn the pages quickly and I was really sucked into the story.
My one complaint is that I think the story could have been more detailed and therefore longer. I think this pace might be perfect for most people, but I've come to like it when there is more time for every emotion and important moment. But, even though the book is fast paced and could have been slower, the story really touched me. I'm also still a little torn if I wanted more answers or am satisfied with not getting all of them, because the answers were absolutely not what this story was about.
If you love fallen angels, if you love cute, but not overwhelmingly present, love stories and if you want to meet some really amazing characters: This is absolutely your book, so make sure to pick it up!
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
Ok wow, this book surprised me. I was really unsure of it at first because the last time I read a book with some fantastical or dystopian, or even light fantasy to it, it was unsettling, and I had DNFed it. This one was different though. I loved the characters, and I found the fantasy aspect of it to be really unique. I loved how the Angel couldn't really speak English and how she never really learned it. The characters were interesting as well but the only complaint I have is that the twins didn't have as much background as I hoped. Jaya though was a good character, I enjoyed her finally coming to peace with her mother's death and how she finally was able to get some things straight with her father.
Ok wow, this book surprised me. I was really unsure of it at first because the last time I read a book with some fantastical or dystopian, or even light fantasy to it, it was unsettling, and I had DNFed it. This one was different though. I loved the characters, and I found the fantasy aspect of it to be really unique. I loved how the Angel couldn't really speak English and how she never really learned it. The characters were interesting as well but the only complaint I have is that the twins didn't have as much background as I hoped. Jaya though was a good character, I enjoyed her finally coming to peace with her mother's death and how she finally was able to get some things straight with her father.
jlterry9's review
4.0
It's a well written book with great characters. However, as interesting as the story is, it doesn't quite make sense - there's no explanations and the ending is satisfying for the characters but doesn't resolve many of the plot points from the book.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Shortly after Jaya's mother dies, angels start falling from the sky. Her father become obsessed, tracking the angels and predicting where the next one will fall. None of the angels survive their descent to earth, not until Jana stumbles across one on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.
What I thought would be a quick, fun read about fallen angels turns out to be a touching story about death, grief and searching for answers. Jaya has been dragged to Edinburgh with her sister, who is more of an enabler of their father's obsession. Angel mania has spread across the world and there is a big market for those who would like a piece of a real angel. And of course there's a cult that has risen up, sucking in the vulnerable.
Jaya decides to hide the angel, to protect her from those who would exploit her. She struggles to communicate, with no shared language other than a fondness for Tunnock's Teacakes, leading to the affectionate name of Teacake for the angel.
Along the way, Jaya befriends a brother and sister, Calum and Allie, who help her hide Teacake from both her father, the cult and everyone else who wants a piece of her. Allie has cystic fibrosis and is a great representation of someone who is more than their illness. Sick kids can have adventures and romances too.
It's an own voices LGBT+ book and it feels unashamedly Scottish, from the streets of Edinburgh to the glen where Jaya's life changed for ever.
Don't expect to find out much about the angels, it's much more about the human relationships and how people might react to such a phenomena. It's a short book and doesn't go into huge amounts of depth but it suited it. I found it sweet and sad.
What I thought would be a quick, fun read about fallen angels turns out to be a touching story about death, grief and searching for answers. Jaya has been dragged to Edinburgh with her sister, who is more of an enabler of their father's obsession. Angel mania has spread across the world and there is a big market for those who would like a piece of a real angel. And of course there's a cult that has risen up, sucking in the vulnerable.
Jaya decides to hide the angel, to protect her from those who would exploit her. She struggles to communicate, with no shared language other than a fondness for Tunnock's Teacakes, leading to the affectionate name of Teacake for the angel.
Along the way, Jaya befriends a brother and sister, Calum and Allie, who help her hide Teacake from both her father, the cult and everyone else who wants a piece of her. Allie has cystic fibrosis and is a great representation of someone who is more than their illness. Sick kids can have adventures and romances too.
It's an own voices LGBT+ book and it feels unashamedly Scottish, from the streets of Edinburgh to the glen where Jaya's life changed for ever.
Don't expect to find out much about the angels, it's much more about the human relationships and how people might react to such a phenomena. It's a short book and doesn't go into huge amounts of depth but it suited it. I found it sweet and sad.
emmanovella's review against another edition
5.0
OKAY WOW YES
I loved this. I loved reading about my city and knowing where places were etc and the story itself was beautiful. I love Jaya and Teacake and YES
Also, the Standing Fallen HQ is in an unnamed town but IT'S MY TOWN WTF?? I pick this up all buzzing like "yay a book set as close to where I live as books will be" and then Sophie Cameron is all "HAHAH JOKES I'M PLACING THESE CHARACTERS ON UR DOORSTEP" Like okay?? WOW YES I LOVE THIS BOOK THIS REVIEW IS A MESS SORRY BYE
I loved this. I loved reading about my city and knowing where places were etc and the story itself was beautiful. I love Jaya and Teacake and YES
Also, the Standing Fallen HQ is in an unnamed town but IT'S MY TOWN WTF?? I pick this up all buzzing like "yay a book set as close to where I live as books will be" and then Sophie Cameron is all "HAHAH JOKES I'M PLACING THESE CHARACTERS ON UR DOORSTEP" Like okay?? WOW YES I LOVE THIS BOOK THIS REVIEW IS A MESS SORRY BYE
powisamy's review against another edition
5.0
I was really excited to hear when Sophie was publishing a book. I had been following her on Twitter for a while so when I heard about Out Of The Blue I was really excited to read it. Out of the Blue was a wonderful read with its diverse character and a great story, OotB is worth the read.
One of the things that struck me about Out of the Blue is the Edinburgh backdrop as I am just really interested in that as a setting. I think that it was increased due to the setting being as part of the Edinburgh festival. This gave it a bustling city which added to the idea of the story. Also with UKYA many of them are set in London so with this being set in Scotland this made it different and stand out.
I also love the characters in the book, Jaya and the relationship with her sisters and her dad. The relationship with her Dad is complex and the way that it progresses is interesting as she deals with the situation at hand as he is the main reason that they are there. The relationships that Jaya also forms in the book especially with the love interest in this book is great and I love finding lesbian romances elements in the book. The romance was done really well and I loved that she had cystic fibrous as this isn't seen in YA a whole lot so I love that it explored this topic. The book is also diverse with a biracial main character and family which again is something that I love to seek out in books.
The whole concept of this book is also great and it is a great combination of magical realism. Sophie makes the whole idea of angels falling from the sky believable and I especially love that she was inspired by the Lynx advert where angels fall from the sky. The character of Teacake who is the angel that falls from the sky is so great and I think that for a character who can't understand the language, Sophie did a great job of exploring this. This book also deals a lot with grief which was explored really well and I loved how it was dealt with. I can't fault this book it was just so great.
The Verdict:
Out of the Blue is a magical and whimsical YA novel that wonderfully explores grief and the supernatural. It is a wonderful read and was one of my favourite books of last year!
One of the things that struck me about Out of the Blue is the Edinburgh backdrop as I am just really interested in that as a setting. I think that it was increased due to the setting being as part of the Edinburgh festival. This gave it a bustling city which added to the idea of the story. Also with UKYA many of them are set in London so with this being set in Scotland this made it different and stand out.
I also love the characters in the book, Jaya and the relationship with her sisters and her dad. The relationship with her Dad is complex and the way that it progresses is interesting as she deals with the situation at hand as he is the main reason that they are there. The relationships that Jaya also forms in the book especially with the love interest in this book is great and I love finding lesbian romances elements in the book. The romance was done really well and I loved that she had cystic fibrous as this isn't seen in YA a whole lot so I love that it explored this topic. The book is also diverse with a biracial main character and family which again is something that I love to seek out in books.
The whole concept of this book is also great and it is a great combination of magical realism. Sophie makes the whole idea of angels falling from the sky believable and I especially love that she was inspired by the Lynx advert where angels fall from the sky. The character of Teacake who is the angel that falls from the sky is so great and I think that for a character who can't understand the language, Sophie did a great job of exploring this. This book also deals a lot with grief which was explored really well and I loved how it was dealt with. I can't fault this book it was just so great.
The Verdict:
Out of the Blue is a magical and whimsical YA novel that wonderfully explores grief and the supernatural. It is a wonderful read and was one of my favourite books of last year!
abumblebeee's review
2.0
This book took me forever to get through. I didn't connect with the characters or the main plot so it was a struggle. I ended up skim reading the last 100 pages (and it isn't a long book to begin with) and the big plot points that should have made me care, didn't. Maybe I am not the right audience since I am not a teenager, but it was a rough book to get through.
chivon's review
3.0
i did enjoy this book , but gave 3 stars because i felt alot of information was left un touched and un discovered in the book itself.
the main character is struggling with her moms death, family changes , sexual identity with herself, and emotions of life .
i enjoyed the angels or "beings " aspect of the book, but again wanted more of why and what next.
if you are looking for a cute fast read i recommend it
the main character is struggling with her moms death, family changes , sexual identity with herself, and emotions of life .
i enjoyed the angels or "beings " aspect of the book, but again wanted more of why and what next.
if you are looking for a cute fast read i recommend it