January 2014 Book Review: Angelfall

ANGELFALL

By Susan Ee

~Book Review~

 

Warning! Minor Spoilers!

I DON’T THINK I’ve seen a book receive more 5 star reviews since JK Rowling/Rick Riordan’s popular Harry Potter/Percy Jackson series. This woman’s promotion strategy is solid!—and so is Angelfall.

Penryn struggles to save her kidnapped sister in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by majestic, beautiful, terrible angels. I’ve been lured into reading angel fantasy books like this before only to be turned-off when the plot is thrown out the window in favor of an insta-love romance. Thankfully, that is not the case here. The wingless angel Penryn befriends—Raffe—is a character in his own right and is not just there to serve as Hottie #1. He. Is. Hilarious! Rarely has a character made me laugh out loud so much. And Penryn? She is a badass who’s had to look out for herself since she was young due to her mother’s schizophrenia and a younger sister with disabilities who looks up to her. I’m looking forward to seeing more of said little sister, Paige; she seems like a sweetie despite what happens to her while kidnapped.

Penryn’s relationship with Raffe is very well-developed and their chemistry feels authentic. She doesn’t let Raffe lord his “mighty angel strength” over her and fights back with whatever weapons available to her. She reminds me of a Katniss, and Katniss has always been up there as one of my favorite literary fantasy heroines, along with Hermoine (Harry Potter) and Rose (Vampire Academy).

I just had one issue with the “girl-fight” that Tweedle-dee and Dum rope Penryn into. It was kinda an eye-roll moment; I mean, really? The guys are feeling horny during these dark, depressing times, so watching some ladies roll around in the mud will do the trick? Come on, Penryn. But I guess during these desperate times, desperate action was needed. Still, it’s annoying.

The villains’ presence is a little weak in this installment, but Ee has done a great job of setting up a potentially explosive Book II, as humans scramble to form a resistance against the tyrannical angels, and a power struggle between demon Belial, the Politician Uriel, and the underdog Raffe is brewing. I’m excited to see what Penryn’s role in the upcoming battles will be, as well as for more secrets to be divulged about how the end of the world really happened. And Penryn’s mother? She is definitely an oddball—I’m curious to learn more about her motivations. A thrilling, action-packed, easy read that will be done before you know it.

Recommended for fans of: Julie Kagawa, Suzanne Collins

February Book Review: Sanctum by Sarah Fine (yay, underworld!) and Ink by Amanda Sun (Set in Japan!)