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anatema's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookph1le's review against another edition
5.0
Staying up late to finish this book is not a good idea. I'm surprised that those last few chapters didn't give me nightmares. This book really just blew me out of the water. Now it's time for something a little more lighthearted, though, considering I read this one and The Drowned Cities back to back. More complete review to come.
Full review:
I admit that I'm always a little bit skeptical when I start reading a book about which so many people have raved. I expect to be let down, and it never fails to shock me when I read a book and find that it is as good as the hype says it is--and then some. There is so much to admire about this book. Ee is a wonderful, gut-wrenching author, and, since this is her debut, I can only imagine how much she'll blow my mind in the future. There will be some minor spoilers in this review.
From the very start, I adored Ee's portrayal of Penryn. First, Penryn has a very complicated family situation, but this isn't mere back story as it would be in far too many other books. Instead, Penryn's family factors into the story in a myriad of ways, some direct and some indirect. All of it furthers Penryn's character growth, but not at the sacrifice of the characterization of Penryn's family. On the contrary, they are every bit as fully realized as Penryn. Secondly, Penryn is an extremely strong character, but not to the point of absurdity. Her strength is twofold, as she has both truly impressive mental reserves and physical prowess. This doesn't mean she's so almighty that she can take all the bad guys on alone. It does mean that she can and does defend not only herself, but others. She's anything but the fainting wallflower who needs a big, strong knight to come rescue her. Her strength also manifests itself in her truly impressive strength of will. Sometimes her headstrong ways get her in trouble, but I never ceased to admire the fact that she was proactive, that she was determined to shape her own fate rather than just sitting back and letting things happen to her. Penryn sometimes makes bad choices, and she has definite flaws, but at no point did this detract from her character. Rather, they made me like her more. She is easily the most well-rounded, admirable female character I've read in any book in a very long time.
Full disclosure: I was pretty sure I was going to dislike Raffe. I swear to Susan Ee, it's not that I meant to sell her short in any way, it's just that I've read far too many books with very predictable, cardboard characters. This is exactly why I'm so thrilled to have found an author like Ee. Raffe has all the ingredients of being one of those eye-roll inducing male characters: he's gorgeous, he has super strength, and he's an angel. But all of that is pure surface veneer. Raffe also possesses personality in spades. It's obvious that there's a lot going on in his head, and I like that the narrative is first person from Penryn's point of view, because it leaves exactly what's going on in his head a mystery. There are clues that his perspective is shifting, but he remains complicated and, to a certain degree, unknowable. I really loved this. I love feeling like the characters aren't just reacting in a prescribed way in order to move the narrative along, but feeling as though they find themselves reacting to circumstances in ways they wouldn't have foreseen. I'm really anxious to know what will ultimately happen with Raffe, precisely because I'm so uncertain.
Really, this uncertainty is the whole reason why I loved this book. At no point did I ever feel like the story or the characters were going to evolve along stereotypical lines. Ee does not shy away from harsh reality, and I have a lot of faith that she isn't going to just tie things up neatly in a bow at the end. The reality that Penryn and Raffe face is extremely harsh, one that fits well within the context of the world Ee has established. It's a world that's dark and disturbing, in which there were several passages that made me cringe. Sometimes, when I read post-apocalyptic or dystopian novels, it feels like this setting is just a very thin veneer upon which a predictable story takes place. That's not the case here. Everything operates within the parameters of the world Ee has created, and that's definitely to the story's credit. It shows that there's an actual story here, not just a typical boy-meets-girl-and-overcomes-all-obstacles-to-be-with-girl structure.
I can't close out this review without saying something about the ending, but nor would I give it away. Suffice it to say that it was very late at night when I finished this book. It was one of those situations where I just couldn't put it down and go to sleep because I HAD to know what was going to happen. Then, Ee took me to a place I hadn't imagined she'd go, and I was convinced that I would have nightmares all night long. Fortunately, I didn't, but I also haven't ceased to be really disturbed by the imagery in the final chapters. I just kept thinking, "Wow, I can't believe she did that." But she did do it. Oh, did she ever.
Needless to say, I can hardly wait for the second installment. I am absolutely dying to know what will ultimately happen with all of the characters. I'd worry about how Ee is going to handle the second book, given how nightmarish a place this book led to, but her skill with twists and turns has left me confident that, wherever Ee ultimately takes the story, it'll be in a direction I couldn't have foreseen.
Full review:
I admit that I'm always a little bit skeptical when I start reading a book about which so many people have raved. I expect to be let down, and it never fails to shock me when I read a book and find that it is as good as the hype says it is--and then some. There is so much to admire about this book. Ee is a wonderful, gut-wrenching author, and, since this is her debut, I can only imagine how much she'll blow my mind in the future. There will be some minor spoilers in this review.
From the very start, I adored Ee's portrayal of Penryn. First, Penryn has a very complicated family situation, but this isn't mere back story as it would be in far too many other books. Instead, Penryn's family factors into the story in a myriad of ways, some direct and some indirect. All of it furthers Penryn's character growth, but not at the sacrifice of the characterization of Penryn's family. On the contrary, they are every bit as fully realized as Penryn. Secondly, Penryn is an extremely strong character, but not to the point of absurdity. Her strength is twofold, as she has both truly impressive mental reserves and physical prowess. This doesn't mean she's so almighty that she can take all the bad guys on alone. It does mean that she can and does defend not only herself, but others. She's anything but the fainting wallflower who needs a big, strong knight to come rescue her. Her strength also manifests itself in her truly impressive strength of will. Sometimes her headstrong ways get her in trouble, but I never ceased to admire the fact that she was proactive, that she was determined to shape her own fate rather than just sitting back and letting things happen to her. Penryn sometimes makes bad choices, and she has definite flaws, but at no point did this detract from her character. Rather, they made me like her more. She is easily the most well-rounded, admirable female character I've read in any book in a very long time.
Full disclosure: I was pretty sure I was going to dislike Raffe. I swear to Susan Ee, it's not that I meant to sell her short in any way, it's just that I've read far too many books with very predictable, cardboard characters. This is exactly why I'm so thrilled to have found an author like Ee. Raffe has all the ingredients of being one of those eye-roll inducing male characters: he's gorgeous, he has super strength, and he's an angel. But all of that is pure surface veneer. Raffe also possesses personality in spades. It's obvious that there's a lot going on in his head, and I like that the narrative is first person from Penryn's point of view, because it leaves exactly what's going on in his head a mystery. There are clues that his perspective is shifting, but he remains complicated and, to a certain degree, unknowable. I really loved this. I love feeling like the characters aren't just reacting in a prescribed way in order to move the narrative along, but feeling as though they find themselves reacting to circumstances in ways they wouldn't have foreseen. I'm really anxious to know what will ultimately happen with Raffe, precisely because I'm so uncertain.
Really, this uncertainty is the whole reason why I loved this book. At no point did I ever feel like the story or the characters were going to evolve along stereotypical lines. Ee does not shy away from harsh reality, and I have a lot of faith that she isn't going to just tie things up neatly in a bow at the end. The reality that Penryn and Raffe face is extremely harsh, one that fits well within the context of the world Ee has established. It's a world that's dark and disturbing, in which there were several passages that made me cringe. Sometimes, when I read post-apocalyptic or dystopian novels, it feels like this setting is just a very thin veneer upon which a predictable story takes place. That's not the case here. Everything operates within the parameters of the world Ee has created, and that's definitely to the story's credit. It shows that there's an actual story here, not just a typical boy-meets-girl-and-overcomes-all-obstacles-to-be-with-girl structure.
I can't close out this review without saying something about the ending, but nor would I give it away. Suffice it to say that it was very late at night when I finished this book. It was one of those situations where I just couldn't put it down and go to sleep because I HAD to know what was going to happen. Then, Ee took me to a place I hadn't imagined she'd go, and I was convinced that I would have nightmares all night long. Fortunately, I didn't, but I also haven't ceased to be really disturbed by the imagery in the final chapters. I just kept thinking, "Wow, I can't believe she did that." But she did do it. Oh, did she ever.
Needless to say, I can hardly wait for the second installment. I am absolutely dying to know what will ultimately happen with all of the characters. I'd worry about how Ee is going to handle the second book, given how nightmarish a place this book led to, but her skill with twists and turns has left me confident that, wherever Ee ultimately takes the story, it'll be in a direction I couldn't have foreseen.
kaulhilo's review against another edition
3.0
nice storyline,,, im just so dead sick of dystopia though :\\
kkulmel's review against another edition
5.0
AWESOME!! THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK.
First, I love books about angels and nephilim.
Second, I love Rafe SOOOO much I kept waiting for him and penryn to kiss or something but that barely happened and I'm really hoping that that will happen more in the second book.
Third, Susan is amazing at describing everything and how penryn felt.
First, I love books about angels and nephilim.
Second, I love Rafe SOOOO much I kept waiting for him and penryn to kiss or something but that barely happened and I'm really hoping that that will happen more in the second book.
Third, Susan is amazing at describing everything and how penryn felt.
bewitchedandbewildered's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't know it was going to be as good as it ended up being. I LOVED it.
rye12389's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
8bitreader's review against another edition
5.0
I'll be the first to admit that I'm probably a little bit biased, seeing as this book hits all my favorite tropes (i.e. angels, urban apocalypse, badass female protagonist, and a pair of people forced to work together through circumstances), but I adored this book with all my being.
Not only did it hit my favorite tropes, but it explored different and interesting themes I never realized I'd love so much. The family dynamic in particular is something really notable. Penryn's love for her mother in particular is fascinating, because on a surface level, it seems abusive, and Penryn acknowledges this, but there's also this confusing mess of it being her mother and her mother being mentally ill, and the strange ways that aids their survival. It was a really interesting dynamic, and although I absolutely adored every interacting between Raffe and Penryn, this worked to make the parts where these two were separated, just as great, if not more so, than the parts with exclusively Penryn and Raffe.
I could probably go on forever about how much I love the resistance and Obi. Initially, I was wary that that was where the plot was headed, but the fact that we only stayed with them for a few chapters made me love them even more. Special shoutout to Deedum, because not only is that an amazingly memorable name, but the reasoning behind it is so charming that I couldn't help but love a pair of characters I really only knew for a dozen or so pages. Deedum in particular display how awesomely the characterizations for everyone was handled. Not to mention how subtle and admirable the foreshadowing is.
The third act is truly phenomenal. From the gala to the truly amazing story twists, that I won't discuss here, I was absolutely floored. Everything about the last 100 or so pages is flawless. Wonderful book. I hope the rest of the series is able to compare.
Not only did it hit my favorite tropes, but it explored different and interesting themes I never realized I'd love so much. The family dynamic in particular is something really notable. Penryn's love for her mother in particular is fascinating, because on a surface level, it seems abusive, and Penryn acknowledges this, but there's also this confusing mess of it being her mother and her mother being mentally ill, and the strange ways that aids their survival. It was a really interesting dynamic, and although I absolutely adored every interacting between Raffe and Penryn, this worked to make the parts where these two were separated, just as great, if not more so, than the parts with exclusively Penryn and Raffe.
I could probably go on forever about how much I love the resistance and Obi. Initially, I was wary that that was where the plot was headed, but the fact that we only stayed with them for a few chapters made me love them even more. Special shoutout to Deedum, because not only is that an amazingly memorable name, but the reasoning behind it is so charming that I couldn't help but love a pair of characters I really only knew for a dozen or so pages. Deedum in particular display how awesomely the characterizations for everyone was handled. Not to mention how subtle and admirable the foreshadowing is.
The third act is truly phenomenal. From the gala to the truly amazing story twists, that I won't discuss here, I was absolutely floored. Everything about the last 100 or so pages is flawless. Wonderful book. I hope the rest of the series is able to compare.
magencorrie's review against another edition
5.0
I was going to give this book a rating of 4 stars, but when I got to the last few chapters of the book, that’s what really turned me around. I had already fallen in love with Angellfall, but those last chapters took me on such an amazing ride I realized this book deserved a 5 star rating. In my opinion, it is such a unique angel book, one I haven’t encountered before. I have fallen hard for Angelfall.
I actually stumbled upon this book, and I am very glad I did. Susan took a very different approach to Angels, one I haven’t really seen before, and she handled it all well. It was the cover that first drew my interest, but upon the first chapter, I was captivated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s been six months since angels have descended upon the earth and started the apocalypse. Bringing doom and destruction in their wake and now only chaos consumes the world. For seventeen-year-old Penryn protecting her mother and sister is top priority in the now angel apocalyptic world. And she’ll do everything in her power to keep them safe.
When Penryn, her mother, and sister try to escape the city one night, they witness a fight that takes place between the apocalyptic angels, which results in one angel having his very own wings ripped out. And when Penryn tries to get her mother and sister away from the avenging angels, she’s spotted. While trying to distract the angels, her crippled sister is taken. With her mother nowhere to be found, gangs of the night approaching, and a wingless angel at her feet, Penryn makes a decision.
She knows that this wingless angel can help her, so she does something no human has before, she saves him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was really taken by surprise by not only the story Susan created, but the world, the characters and the idea of this book. I feel she took a simple, common idea and gave it a very unique spin. And she spun an amazing story full of evil angels, an apocalyptic world and creatures that go bump in the night. In Angelfall, you enter the world six months after the attack of angels. Yes, it seems that they are not all golden light, white fluffy wings and hold-you-in-their-arms-peaceful kind of angels. These angels have brought on the apocalypse and they don’t seem to care about human kind at all.
Penryn is trying to survive this now crumpling world, where people are doing everything they can to survive and protect themselves from the angels. That means gangs of violence have popped up, cannibals, and fighting have taken over the once peaceful world she knew.
I feel that I should really give Penryn major props, I know I couldn't survive in the world that she lives in. She had to become cunning and very brave. And throughout the story you see she is a very strong character, one that will not back down. That is what made me really enjoy Penryn. But it did seem, at times, like she rushed into situations without forethought.
Then you have the fallen angel, who Penryn saved and made a deal with, Raffe. What can I say about this dangerous and sexy character? Well, those two words pretty much describe him! As the book progresses, you are able to see many sides of this multi-dimensional character. He is arrogant, but he is also very caring. Which he seems to hide very well. I enjoyed Raffe, he is an angel I have a crush on now. But you also realize he is more than meets the eye. And I can't wait to learn more about him.
I also loved seeing the growth of Penryn and Raffe’s relationship. They were thrown together in a very chaotic situation, and at first, things are very much difficult for the two. But through their travels together, getting Penryn’s sister and Raffe’s wings, they do build a bond. And it is a very dangerous bond, one they must hide from humans and angels alike.
You meet a lot of characters, and you get to see a very interesting world. The pacing did feel a bit rushed to me and I was left with many questions, however, the story line held me captive and I really did enjoy Angelfall. There is so much I want to write about, but I am forcing myself to stop or I might spoil something!
I felt like Susan created a very original and unique story. And I have fallen in love with the characters, the storyline and the idea of Angelfall. I am very excited to see where this story will go, and to see what is going to happen next. To learn why the angels are on earth, what are they planning, what is going to happen to Penryn and why did the Raffe lose his wings?? Just so many questions! So all in all, I need the next book!
I actually stumbled upon this book, and I am very glad I did. Susan took a very different approach to Angels, one I haven’t really seen before, and she handled it all well. It was the cover that first drew my interest, but upon the first chapter, I was captivated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s been six months since angels have descended upon the earth and started the apocalypse. Bringing doom and destruction in their wake and now only chaos consumes the world. For seventeen-year-old Penryn protecting her mother and sister is top priority in the now angel apocalyptic world. And she’ll do everything in her power to keep them safe.
When Penryn, her mother, and sister try to escape the city one night, they witness a fight that takes place between the apocalyptic angels, which results in one angel having his very own wings ripped out. And when Penryn tries to get her mother and sister away from the avenging angels, she’s spotted. While trying to distract the angels, her crippled sister is taken. With her mother nowhere to be found, gangs of the night approaching, and a wingless angel at her feet, Penryn makes a decision.
She knows that this wingless angel can help her, so she does something no human has before, she saves him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was really taken by surprise by not only the story Susan created, but the world, the characters and the idea of this book. I feel she took a simple, common idea and gave it a very unique spin. And she spun an amazing story full of evil angels, an apocalyptic world and creatures that go bump in the night. In Angelfall, you enter the world six months after the attack of angels. Yes, it seems that they are not all golden light, white fluffy wings and hold-you-in-their-arms-peaceful kind of angels. These angels have brought on the apocalypse and they don’t seem to care about human kind at all.
Penryn is trying to survive this now crumpling world, where people are doing everything they can to survive and protect themselves from the angels. That means gangs of violence have popped up, cannibals, and fighting have taken over the once peaceful world she knew.
I feel that I should really give Penryn major props, I know I couldn't survive in the world that she lives in. She had to become cunning and very brave. And throughout the story you see she is a very strong character, one that will not back down. That is what made me really enjoy Penryn. But it did seem, at times, like she rushed into situations without forethought.
Then you have the fallen angel, who Penryn saved and made a deal with, Raffe. What can I say about this dangerous and sexy character? Well, those two words pretty much describe him! As the book progresses, you are able to see many sides of this multi-dimensional character. He is arrogant, but he is also very caring. Which he seems to hide very well. I enjoyed Raffe, he is an angel I have a crush on now. But you also realize he is more than meets the eye. And I can't wait to learn more about him.
I also loved seeing the growth of Penryn and Raffe’s relationship. They were thrown together in a very chaotic situation, and at first, things are very much difficult for the two. But through their travels together, getting Penryn’s sister and Raffe’s wings, they do build a bond. And it is a very dangerous bond, one they must hide from humans and angels alike.
You meet a lot of characters, and you get to see a very interesting world. The pacing did feel a bit rushed to me and I was left with many questions, however, the story line held me captive and I really did enjoy Angelfall. There is so much I want to write about, but I am forcing myself to stop or I might spoil something!
I felt like Susan created a very original and unique story. And I have fallen in love with the characters, the storyline and the idea of Angelfall. I am very excited to see where this story will go, and to see what is going to happen next. To learn why the angels are on earth, what are they planning, what is going to happen to Penryn and why did the Raffe lose his wings?? Just so many questions! So all in all, I need the next book!
selenajean's review against another edition
5.0
I shamelessly loved this book and read it in less than 24 hours. I almost did not read it as I don't like a lot of young adult books. After reading it I'm pretty surprised it's considered young adult. It has a fair amount of graphic violence involving children but so does the Hunger Games so maybe I should not be surprised. The story was original, the characters good, and no cheesy/ridiculous teen romance. I can't wait to read the rest of the series as it comes out.