Angelfall

Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com.

I was really surprised by this. In that it wasn't as bad as I expected it would be. I think angels are the new in thing right now, what with books like The Bone Season and The Catalyst. In those books the beings are called angels because that is the best way to describe them, I like that in this we have proper biblical angels. I like that it had that little bit of religion in it. However I didn't like the fact that I was constantly being reminded about what hunks these angels were. I mean from what I can tell these angels basically look like those guys who stand outside Abercrombie and Fitch.

It felt a little strange. It felt like Susan Ee was trying to fit a romance story into this post-apocalyptic world and it just didn't seem to work very well. All the way through the story it felt like she was trying to hint at romance, but it was through silly stuff like Penryn wondering if she should wash her hair because cute guy. But then suddenly at the end it was all boom romance.

I also felt that Penryn doing so many years of self defense was a little unbelievable. I mean she was basically ready for the apocalypse to happen. The reason for this being that she needed to protect herself from her mother, though I didn't feel that her mother was much of a threat, other than having a strange egg obsession she didn't feel that dangerous.

My only other grievance was the start of the novel. I know its annoying if a book starts out with a huge amount of exposition, however I like to know at least a little of what happened. Especially in a post-apocalyptic world. And I definitely want to know more than just “Its been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it”. Apart from that it really wasn't too bad.

Angelfall by Susan Ee was really good. I was a quick read and I really enjoyed the characters.

Penryn is a very interesting main character. She is shown as a strong and dependable person. You can tell that the war with the Angels has changed who she was and made her become a strong person. It was early in the book when she met Raffe. He is an angel that had his wings cut right off in front of her then her little sister, Paige, was stolen from her wheelchair right in front of her. Penryn decides to take in Raffe, fix him up, then use him to get Paige back.

[ MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ]

Penryn and Raffe go through a lot together. Getting kidnapped and get into fights. Break free of situations and have each others back. Who knew a human would defend and save an angel? Something she has know to not only fear but fight against? You can tell that she is starting to see him as something other than just an angel. She starts to care for him and recuses him multiple times and he saves her. You don't get much of a romantic relationship between the two until the end. They have one hot and steamy kiss. I wish I saw more. Maybe in book two? I own both so I am going to dive into that book next!

Overall, good book. Easy read for anyone who enjoys this genre. I really enjoy reading about angels and this book has a twist about how they are fighting the humans. Would recommend this book!

I picked up this book because I saw the slew of four-star and five-star reviews. If so many of my fellow readers thought so highly of this book, how could I not feel the same?

On my first attempt, I gave up about two chapters in. The next day, thinking that I had ejected the book in haste, I picked it up again and started over. This time, I made it 26 chapters in before I gave up again. I can safely say that despite my best efforts, I won't be attempting a third try.

The problem is simple: I just don't care about these characters. I have no clue why they're in the situation they're in, nor why I should care about any improvement in or destruction of their journey or lives. In the hodgepodge of post-apocalyptic distress, teenage girl issues, and characters that are as milquetoast as they come, there is no discernible “higher purpose.” Again, why should I care? The plight of these characters is so flimsy and half-baked that I'm not even given a chance to care.

Of particular distress is the oh-so-obvious, disguised-under-layers-of-seething-sarcasm romance that leaks out between the two main characters. Why bother with this over-the-top charade when it's clear that that's what's building? Where I a girl and in Penryn's shoes, you can bet I would do a little more due diligence before clumsily drooling over the amazing attractiveness of my mortal enemy.

I realize now that I've been hunting around YA books in search of the next Hunger Games. I think it's time I give that notion a rest – this is yet another disappointment in a long string of disappointments within the genre.