So I'm reviewing a book from one of the most awesome authors today. Courtney Allison Moulton is a bundle of sweet awesomeness, and I LAV her. She's one of the younger authors, she's cute, she loves books, she owns Pokemon figurines, and she's an equestrian! Can't get much better, can it? Most of my books I get from my local library, but they didn't get this one, so I bought it from my local Indie<3. (Of course, as soon as I bought it, my library ordered it, because Murphy hates me.)
Anywho. So, I read Angelfire and now I'm going to stop rambling and get on with it. Linkage at the bottom, as usual.
Review Clue: This is a feature on my blog in which I hint which book I'm reviewing that week. Followers can, after reading the hint, submit their guess as to what book it is, along with their name, and will be mentioned in the review!
Clue: You, dear readers will reap the benefits of my having read this flaming hot book. It's so good, it's divine.
Guessers: None :(
Blurby:
When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.
A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.
While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember. (From Goodreads)
Review:
This is going to be a weird review. I really liked the book, but I was a bit...disappointed. I expected so much more. I've heard these fantastic, raving reviews, about the awesome action and romance and humor and, of course, Root Beer Float Kisses (as well as peopleburgers). But I wasn't seeing it. And the religiosity towards the end...Wait. Let me back up a bit.
The Characters:
Ellie-she was awesome. Absolutely hysterical, strong, with the perfect amount of resistance when she originally finds out who she is. I've read books in which the main character takes this new outlook on life in stride, but not Ellie. She completely refuses to believe it at first, but is finally convinced in a normal span of time. She's such a strong main character, a go-getter not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
Will-I've always hated the tragic main male characters, coming into the picture with a killer smile and baggage. Now, Will's got these awesome green eyes, which I love, and funky tattoos, but you'll have to read the book to know more about them. I ain't telling. But Will...well, he wasn't that swoonworthy. I'm glad he didn't seem to have as much baggage as I expected, and as much as everyone loves in YA, but he just didn't work for me. Angsty and all, but...meh. He did everything he thought was right, very noble, and he really connected with Ellie, but <3Puck<3 still has my heart. But...
Cadan-On the other hand, Cadan, an evil reaper who you only meet for a few minutes, I found more interesting. He seems pretty deep, and I have some other suspicions about him, which I won't share for fear of spoileryness.
One thing I loved-hated was the thing with Ellie's dad. He was verbally abusive, and I hated the drastic change from what Ellie said he used to be. And I absolutely love the way Ellie reacts to his abuse. Instead of taking it, she fights back. What did bother me about it, though, was the way his personality changes. Ellie's getting ready for a party, and she sees her father on the way to the bathroom, but instead of avoiding each other, they actually speak. Not deep, or friendly, but more than I expected.
The Fighting: It was pretty impressive, though I really expected more. I love fight scenes, especially well-written ones. And they were well-written, but I didn't feel like they were that good. Maybe I'm just taking them for granted, it's possible CAM spent hours writing and rewriting those scenes, and it's only because they come so naturally to me that I'm being too harsh.
The Writing Style: It was interesting, and took some getting used to. I felt like there wasn't a whole lot of description in the beginning, and everything happened. Don't get me wrong, I love how we were thrown straight into the action, and it's an interesting writing style, but not a favorite.
The Humor: Peopleburgers, root beer float kisses, biffles, and all. They're all so sweet and cute and funny. I mean, come on, Ellie actually said Biffles! And Will likes Root Beer Floats! So cute! And, my favorite, peopleburgers! I'm seriously considering buying a peopleburgers t-shirt (pictured). And she named her car Marshmallow!The Ending: I felt, in one of the final scenes, it got a bit too religious for me. The same thing happened at the end of Fallen by Lauren Kate. I have no problem with fallen angels, and I love how the fallen aren't the center of this book, but it got iffy for me, personally. But, as self-centered as I am, I know CAM didn't write this for me. ;)
I feel like this whole review is coming across negative, and I really don't want it too, because I really liked this book, and I advise you to go find some more reviews, because they'll all show you just how wrong I am. Because this book is awesomeness, it just...disappointed me a bit.
Overall rating: 4*
(Look how much I love this book. I went through all that trouble so you'll add it on Goodreads, go meet CAM, and buy Peopleburger Ts!)
Peace,
Riv
Current Music: Angelfire Playlist, on website.
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Fabulous review!! I'm hearing great things about this book :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes hearing lots of reviews before we read makes our own perceptions hard the thread out. I hear you on that. Great review, though.
ReplyDelete