Short reviews: Hidden Wings + Broken Wings by Cameo Renae

Title: Hidden Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: January 16, 2013
Pages: 204
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise. As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

**REVIEW**

For those who are looking for a quick, young, and uncomplicated storyline. However, I found the writing to be incredibly unrefined and without structure or finesse. Everything felt very scattered. The protagonist was a little unbelievable and the characters lacked emotional depth, making them hard to connect with. This is a quick-paced read to pass the time.

(2.5/5)

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Title: Broken Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: June 1, 2013
Pages: 296
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Emma’s world is falling apart, and Kade, the only one who seems to hold her together, is missing. With death lingering right outside their door, decisions must be made before it’s too late.

The Midway has refused to send help, so they are left to seek out the only other who can stop Lucian.

A perilous quest sends Emma and a few Guardians into the Underworld, where the unimaginable abide, to beseech the Prince of Darkness himself. Lucifer.
Now, they must endure the deadly levels of Hell, which not one …mortal or immortal… has ever survived. Prepare for love, loss, and the unexpected.

**REVIEW**

Despite only feeling so-so about the first installment, I went ahead and picked up 'Broken Wings.'

I was intrigued by Kade and the promising plot, and ended up exceptionally underwhelmed by the unbelievable and convenient quest into Hell. It left me completely unfazed and I found myself skimming the book, either bored or just wanting to finish it.

The deal with Lucifer's son was a fun twist, though, as a character he was incredibly unrealistic. The ending was abrupt and I almost would've purchased the third book just to finish the half-hanging scene, if I hadn't known better. This will be it for me.

(2/5)

Review: World After by Susan Ee

Title: World After (#2)
Author: Susan Ee
Published: November 19, 2013
Pages: 438
Series: Penryn & the End of Days
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

**REVIEW**

Since the sequel picked up right where 'Angelfall' left off you got to experience Penryn's off-the-bat feelings about everything.

It was painfully authentic how she struggled to cope with what her sister had been turned into. Despite Paige's horrifying transformation there's still an uncertainty about her and if the little girl could still be there. You're taken on a snaky path of revelations and learn what actually happened to Paige, the deal with the scorpion creatures, and the grand plan of it all.

I enjoyed 'World After' for the same reasons as 'Angelfall'; Ee's compelling way of telling a story and the evenly pounding pacing with bursts of action and unpredictable turns. The courageous, sensible, and likable heroine. We get to experience Penryn's fierce independence, because (besides the momentary company of her bizarre yet tremendously entertaining mother, or so) she's getting in and out of trouble on her own.

Then there's the sword. How I ended up really caring for a sword, is beyond me. I was intrigued by its way of communicating through Penryn's dreams and Raffe's memories - I think more of the latter would've been amazing and might have distracted from his absense, meanwhile opening him up to Penryn and the reader. Seeing the memories with Penryn through his point-of-view, was gold.

Raffe isn't present until late in the book, and boy, I missed him. Although I applaud Ee for a realistic, solid, and aching relationship build-up, I just craved his presence. And banter. That's why I fell in love with the first book. It's funny how I bonded more with the sword than Raffe now.

However, for those who haven't read the book yet, obviously you have to. Because Penryn and Raffe may or may not be in a beach house, in front of a fire, having heart-twisting and witty dialogue that made me want to jump around or squeal into a pillow. There may or may not be a little stripping involved, too.

The ending did leave me hanging a little and I can't imagine where it'll go from here.

(4/5)

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall (#1)
Author: Susan Ee
Published: May 21, 2011
Pages: 283
Series: Penryn & The End of Days
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: 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 an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

**REVIEW**

There are two kinds of amazing books: the ones you can't stop raving about, and the ones that leave you at a loss for words. 'Angelfall was the latter for me. I don't know what to say and I'm sure everything and more has already been said about this phenomenal book.

The post-apocalyptic world by Ee, where angels are the enemies of the people, was fantastically well-written. The world-building was mind-blowing. From the moment I started reading 'Angelfall' I could not tear away. Ee takes you on an insane journey, from start to finish. Perfect pacing, solid writing, crazy storyline. 

Penryn was plain kick-ass, instantly adding to the list of my favorite heroines of all time - fearless, yet vulnerable and relatable. I don't think I've ever read a book with such poignant and interesting characters. Besides strong, sharp, mesmerizing Raffe, I was immensely impressed with Ee's portrayal of Penryn's schizophrenic mother and their relationship.

Back to Raffe. I mean, seriously! Have mercy. He was intriguing, witty, real, and unpredictable. Romance is not a focus and I wouldn't have wanted it to be, because then I wouldn't have been so caught off guard and frantic when a kiss may or may not have occurred. And I wouldn't have been taken aback by what Raffe may or may not have said afterwards. And I wouldn't have realized how much I cared about these characters.

The first half of the book already had my full attention, the second half totally slammed me. There are some pretty graphic, nightmarish, did-I-just-read-that scenes. Utterly shocking twists and turns. If you won't read this book for its action or characters, you'll want to read it for the plot. Really, you'll want to read about these angels. You'll want to know if Penryn finds her little sister. Because it is that intense.

I'll start the sequel in about thirty seconds. 'Angelfall' is action-packed, well-written, and character driven - the recipe for "must read."

(5/5)

Review: Angelfire, Wings of the Wicked, Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire series) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Title: Angelfire (#1), Wings of the Wicked (#2), Shadows in the Silence (#3)

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Published: February 15, 2011 / January 31, 2012 / January 29, 2013
Pages: 453 / 516 / 469
Series: Angelfire Trilogy
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary:
Angelfire (#1)

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

**REVIEW**

I just need a minute..

Holy crap.

I picked this book up, started reading it, and never put it down. I ended up reading all three books, back-to-back, in three days - engrossed in every page and every word.

Moulton's way of continuously and confidently raising the stakes and taking the story to the next level was exceptionally natural and believable. I will never know how she managed to execute the transition of Ellie, a pretty teenage girl with a regular life turning into the achingly fierce warrior that was always within her, so flawlessly.

There was something so impressively balanced about Ellie, how despite her power she remained vulnerable, and how despite determination there was an acceptance of doubt.

Ellie was so real, so solid, graceful, and had a great sense of humor. You trusted her, the path she chose and the choices she made. Possibly my favorite thing about her; she was never the damsel-in-distress, which doesn't mean she could take care of herself in every situation but she would always keep her head high, even when all odds were against her.

The Angelfire books were never short of action, and that is even an understatement. Demonic and angelic reapers and winged creatures, swarmed the story. The swords were always pulled and the anticipation of a fight hung in the air like mist. There's quite the bloodbath and I found myself countless of times sitting on edge.

Moulton found an interesting way to make 'Angelfire' an angel-story that hadn't been told before and it all came down to Ellie. Ellie is special in more ways than one; her backstory is intriguing and you'll be baffled, even shocked, by the secrets of her past.

There was a nice parallel to Ellie's teenage life (attending school, going to parties) and the life she was adapting to that puts the weight of human race on her shoulders. I liked that there wasn't ever a division between the two, it was all a part of the other and it kept the story stable - real. I loved that Ellie was capable of wielding her swords and fighting for her life, but that she held on to the other part of her as well.

There were so many well-developed characters. I loved Kate (the best friend), appreciated the realistic relationship Ellie had with her mother, and astonishingly, grew to care for characters that had less impact on Ellie but were a part of the story, like Nathaniel and Marcus.

And let's talk about Will. Stoic, fearless, flawed.

Despite being by Ellie, more or less, the entirety of over a thousand pages.. I couldn't get enough of him. My heart still leaped by the mention of him; his presence, his exterior, his words. I loved that he wasn't perfect, that he was complicated and unpredictable. He wasn't the knight in shining armor or the soul mate.

Oddly enough, I loved that despite their closeness, there was always a certain distance that needed to be closed. You got to fight with the love between Ellie and Will and I freaking loved it.

I don't know how many times Will turned my heart to glass, how many times my heart ached and warmed for them. In the end, I found that the 'Angelfire' books were an epic love story more than anything.

[Spoiler alert!] I had a soft spot for Cadan, he was great. Part of me so badly wanted the story to explore the possibility of Cadan and Ellie, just to storm the seas for a bit. Had the Angelfire series been four books, I think there would've been enough time for a little walk off course. However tempting a love triangle was, I found that Moulton was extremely wise in avoiding it. But I'm just saying! [Spoilers ended!]

Action, story, romance - you got it. Mythology fans should check these books out. Romance fans have to. 

(5/5)

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly (#1)

Author: Cynthia Hand

Published: January 4, 2011

Pages: 464

Series: Trilogy - 'Hallowed' (published January 17, 2012) and 'Boundless' follow

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. . . . When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

**REVIEW**

I ended up reading 'Unearthly' in one sitting - skipping right over dinner. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like it; the beginning moved quickly (one moment Carla has her vision and the next she and her family have moved to a new state to fulfill her purpose), and the angel front was a little too blunt and direct for my taste.

Even though I thought it was interesting that young angels got visions about their purpose on earth, a mission they were meant to complete, there wasn't particularly a new and refreshing take on them otherwise.

I think the mystery revolving the boy Carla sees in her vision (and appears to be meant to save) could've built up for much longer. Carla finds him almost immediately, and so simply, and the whole thing just feels less exciting. Although, the vision remains an enigma throughout the book and will still have you wondering what it is that's going to happen.

Readers will have different opinions on the high school parts of 'Unearthly.' Carla being an angel (well, half) and having this vision she's trying to figure out is never forgotten but there is a good chunk of just being a teenager and I actually found those parts very charming and enjoyable.

The classroom scenes were so funny and I loved Carla's friends, they were just really great and well-written, the kind of characters you'd like as your own friends because they were that awesome.

Carla was a likable, enjoyable protagonist and narrator. I have to say the whole deal with the orange hair was a little distracting (I know, it's silly. But really, all I thought about was this weird girl with dye-damaged orange hair.)

Hand did a good job of including Carla's mom and brother in the storyline, especially Jeffrey who wasn't a necessary character but who would've been missed if he'd been removed.

A love triangle was not expected, but wait.. it was sort of a non-love triangle love triangle, done with taste 

and reason.

I was totally caught off guard by Tucker. Hand really succeeded with a believable "hate turned love relationship." I made a total one-eighty - finding him rude and obnoxious to funny and charming. I did in fact like Christian and his subtle ways, as well, but he was held at a distance where you didn't really know where you had him. Tucker had such charisma, he had me smiling like an idiot.

I was intrigued by the concept of the Black Wings (totally adored the idea that Black Wings oozed this painful sorrow about them) but the one big encounter with a Black Wing left me unsatisfied, and frankly, a little weirded out. I'd hoped there'd be more exposure to them, something I'm sure will be presented more in the second installment.

As 'Unearthly' got to its climax and everything that'd been built up regarding Carla's purpose started to unfold I found myself in an awfully tense state. There's most definitely a pleasing, interesting twist and I'm curious to see how Hand takes it from here.

(4/5)

Review: Stained by Ella James

Title: Stained (#1)
Author: Ella James
Published: September 14, 2011
Pages: 157
Series: yes (second installment 'Stolen' published April 4, 2012)
Source: grab

Goodreads Summary: After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia’s home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie - Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.


**REVIEW**
I'm just going to get right into it. 'Stained' started off with Julia coming home to see her home on fire and she flees, refusing to be placed under another foster care. 

Julia finds and sleeps in an old warehouse, under a tarp. She's all alone, with nothing left. It's made pretty clear from the start Suzanne and Harry, her last foster parents, were loving and caring and Julia considered them her parents. But what instantly could not be ignored by me was that Julia wasn't, in any noticeable way, upset or whatever it is that you are when you've witnessed your family burn to death. She didn't cry or hurt. It was all incredibly odd and unrealistic.

And it all just got to me more when Cayne (quite literally) dropped into Julia's life, through the roof of the warehouse, fighting a winged monster.
Julia, apparently perfectly fine from everything that's happened, runs after him and demands that he can't leave her and that he needs to answer her questions. 

When Cayne looked at her after having ignored her nagging, she went, "Ah, he's not catatonic!" and "Dang, you walk fast" - there was a little wit and a little sarcasm thrown in here and there from the girl who lost everything three days prior, the girl who (let's face it) should've been curled up in a corner shaking and crying, traumatized. It just irked me, I couldn't help it.

One minute Cayne is trying to get away and the next he gets an idea and they've agreed to team up and take Samyaza down (the demon that intended to kill Julia and whom stole something from Cayne), this arrangement was settled in the span of fifteen minutes or so it seemed. It was very sudden.

This is where the plot started to launch into action and soon Julia and Cayne finds themselves on a cross-country trip, tracking Samyaza. The story is fast-paced and there's a lot of good action - fighting, shooting, stabbing, and frankly a lot of blood.

There were a few encounters that were bewildering and unclear. I didn't understand why Samyaza would choose to fly away when he could've done more in attempt to kill Cayne or Julia, and it was never clear to me why the Stained ones were being hunted which I'm sure will be explored more in the later installments.

At first I experienced James's writing to be a bit bumpy and curt but I eventually found that I liked her nicely descriptive style. 
'Stained' is dialogue-driven and I did feel I'd wanted more of an emotional, personal depth to the characters. I didn't particularly connect with Cayne or Julia. I didn't feel like I knew them, who they were, or what they were really feeling.

Both of them had some split-personalities going on. Julia begged and pleaded to know Cayne's memories and out of nowhere, practically in the same sentence, told him it was okay if he didn't tell her. Cayne had stood his ground on not telling her and suddenly decided she should know. They were making all kinds of one-eighties. 

Another one of Julia's cases which almost had me laugh:
Julia: ".. why don't you just call André?" (so that she could go with him instead.)
A moment later. Cayne: "I called André.."
Julia: "But why?!" Hm..

Something would occur and when the next chapter came around it'd be unclear if the previous scene had really happened or how much time had passed since.

I hadn't expected the ending at all, only because it was such an out-of-the-blue end to a short book. Unfortunately the cliffhanger did not get to me. I failed to be intrigued by what was to come and I just hadn't been engrossed enough in 'Stained' to feel compelled to purchase the second installment. All-in-all it was a decent, okay read for me.

(3.2/5)

Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Title: A Beautiful Dark (#1)

Author: Jocelyn Davies

Published: September 27, 2011

Pages: 405

Series: yes (second installment 'A Fractured Light' published September 25, 2012)

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events.
Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

**REVIEW**

I went into 'A Beautiful Dark' with ease and fair interest. It was definitely fast-paced, things came about quickly in the beginning and characters were introduced right away.

My first thought was that Asher and Devin were everywhere. There they were from chapter one and then just.. everywhere. I found there was no time to really get to know them and have them grow on you before they were all in your face.

The boys, without a proper get-to-know-each-other conversation whatsoever, spoke to Skye and made constant comments to her as if they knew her after only one day at their new school. Although Asher and Devin were supposed to be complete strangers to Skye, she'd respond in the same manner. It just wasn't natural and felt manufactured.

Asher and Devin seemed to appear every nanosecond, wherever Skye turned, and I didn't understand why she immediately got so incredibly hung up on them.

At first I found that Asher and Devin's differing characteristics were very forced. We have the good guy and the bad boy and it was especially forced how they were clearly pushed to be total opposites with everything that they did.

Later on, you'll be enlightened why this was the case, but despite the gained understanding of it, it was just one of those things that were pretty typical.

Unfortunately both characters were just too obvious. They felt very head-on and decided. Rather than being charming it was as if they were told to be charming, if that makes sense.

I hate it when I don't have anything to say about the protagonist other than that they were all right. Though I think Skye needed to get her reactions checked. When Asher showed Skye his power (way before she knew anything about him or Devin) she hardly had any reaction to it, like what he could do wasn't strange at all. It was the same when she found out about her parents, she isn't bewildered or upset, instead she takes it all very smoothly.

The plot line in 'A Beautiful Dark' wasn't unheard of. Sadly, little made it original or fresh.

The big portion of the book when Skye's trying to find her powers didn't really go anywhere. I didn't get to the point of feeling it was boring but it was repetitive and refrained the story from moving forward.

I was pretty surprised to be closing in on the ending without having anything significant and conflicting occur. And then suddenly the storyline that had been somewhat uneventful until then, stirred up and there was excitement, action, and shock.

I was pleasantly shocked by the twist at the end, and I freaking loved it. Honestly, I didn't think 'A Beautiful Dark' had it in it. Up until then I didn't think I'd read the second installment (which is ironic since it was the description of the sequel that had me read the first book) but I might all because of the ending.

(3.5/5)

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil (Sweet #1)

Author: Wendy Higgins

Published: May 1, 2012

Pages: 464

Series: Trilogy (second installment called 'Sweet Hope')

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: Embrace the Forbidden. What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels. Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

**REVIEW**

Oh my goodness. If possible, I would've put my life on a giant hold for 'Sweet Evil.'

Excellent, highly enjoyable read.

I was dead-on sold from page one. It was something about the easiness in Higgins writing - everything sailed on tremendously smooth and natural. I was seized by an instant reaction of interest and intrigue.

It was so smooth-sailing (can't stress it enough.) I had no reluctance towards the storyline, plot, or characters whatsoever. I was captivated and immersed in all of. All of it. This was actually the kind of book I wanted to read slowly, consciously saving chapters to "read later." The kind of book you're dreading the page number of; I didn't want it to end.

A round of applause for the freshness of this angel storyline - it was utterly ingenious, uncluttered, and well executed. No unnecessary fuss or historical background that will zone you out, but enough to fill you in and have you believe it. Everything came to place so smoothly. Here I go again with all the smoothness.

Every character - protagonist as well as secondary, were simply superb. I don't think I've ever cared for this many characters at once before. Anna, Jay, Patti, Kaiden, Belial..

Anna wasn't a challenge to connect with, she was kind, genuine, and determined. Very likable. Although she was in great success presented as Miss Goody-Goody, that is gradually and naturally interfered with.

Jay is the close guy friend you never had, seriously! And, well, Patti is the adoptive mother you never had - she had such a beautiful persona. I feel so much love and warmth for these two.

I found Patti's reactions and emotions towards Anna and her newfound knowledge of who she is to be realistic without being over- or underwhelming. It was clear how loving and protective she was of Anna, simultaneously having reasons for trusting Anna with her own independence and responsibility.

I was all giddy during unlikely phases of the book. It was Kaiden, it was all Kaiden. Though he was to portray bad, untrustworthy, offending - he was just so.. so.. basically he had this intense, alluring quality about him. He's the guy you should stay away from but have hopelessly fallen for.

Describing him as a bad boy doesn't sound right. He is what he was born into, he's not capable of anything else (er, yet). Behind the lustful lure of his persona, I saw that he was honest and protective of Anna. These two need tension, uncertainty, as much as the back-and-forth.

Something struck me about the ending, especially the scene of Anna and the postcard. My heart wept. It was such a tranquil, beautiful, moving ending. I loved it. 

'Sweet Evil' was awesomeness - easy to follow, so easy to enjoy. It set the perfect pace for what will hopefully be a trilogy and I'm ridiculously excited for it.

 (5/5)