love speculative fiction, I’m generally not a huge fan of angel/demon stories.
Not that I think there’s anything wrong with reading or enjoying them, it’s
simply a matter of personal taste. And my personal taste usually travels in a
different direction.
though everything I had heard was positive. But when my friends started writing
reviews gushing about how good the books were, I decided to check them out for
myself.
try and pick up the pieces of her old life. But when she meets Jake, the new
guy at school who possesses a strange and marvelous gift, Brielle discovers the
ability to see into the Celestial and is confronted with the reality that angels and demons are real. Both Brielle and Jake’s gifts paint a big red
target on their backs. Brielle soon discovers that the old life is lost forever, because “once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee.”
Brielle
sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side
with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life
begins to crumble.
Her
boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her—something important. Her overprotective
father has started drinking again. And he’s dating a much younger woman who
makes Brielle’s skin crawl. Haunting nightmares invade Brielle’s sleep, and
flashes of Celestial vision keep her off kilter.
What
she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself
has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through
the Terrestrial Veil.
Brielle
has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their
terror down on the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been
given. She must fight.
But
can she fly with broken wings?
doesn’t rely upon long, drawn-out passages of overweight prose, but utilizes
just the right amount of imagery, description, and word play to create a
beautiful picture in your mind.
captured her fragility and despair after tragedy perfectly. I enjoyed reading from Jake’s perspective as well. Though at times, he came across as almost too good, if sometimes a bit creepy stalkerish
in the first book. ;)
Though it is while reading from the perspective of Pearla (one of the angels) that you get gems such as this:
“It’s the greatest expression of love, she knows, to
lay one’s life down. But she wonders if humans know just how unique the ability
is to do that. Death is not something an angel has to offer her loved ones. How
glorious it must be to have one’s days numbered by the Father. How precious it
makes each and every one.” (Broken Wings)
Broken Wings is a vibrant sequel to Angel Eyes. I found myself inextricably drawn to both Brielle and Jake and their story. You can’t help feeling for Brielle, trapped as she is in the midst of so many trials, worries, secrets, and mysteries.
Even at the end of the book, so many mysteries
remain unsolved, so many questions unanswered, and so many difficulties
unresolved, that Broken Wings felt like merely the prelude to what will
doubtless be an epic third book. And the cliffhanger ending ensures that you
will pick up the third book…no matter what!
Overall, I enjoyed both books and have no doubt that I will read the next book in the series, Dark Halo, when it releases this fall. If you like a good angel/demon story,
with mystery, a bit of romance, and action thrown into the mix, then you’ll enjoy both Angel Eyes and Broken Wings.
Jennifer Bogart
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Emma or Audrey Engel
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Karielle @ Books à la Mode
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Shane Werlinger
Layla and Josiah says
Sounds interesting… by the way, I love the quote of your day on your sidebar:)
Layla.
Hannah says
Oh Gillian, I'm so glad you reviewed these books. I've had my eyes on them for a while, but was wary of them.
I'm fascinated by the mystery of the angels, but I know they're real so I prefer not to speculate or come up with too much about them.
But I think a well-written story involving them might be good.
What age range do you think is appropriate for these books?
Gillian Adams says
I agree with you, Hannah. I think that's why I'm not usually a fan of books that fall into that category.
Hmm, I'd say ages 14 and up.
Charley Robson says
Hmm. I'm not normally one for speculative fiction at all, but how can I resist this? Gorgeous prose. I'm a sucker for it.
Rightio – methinks these are going on the birthday list!
pineneedlesandpapertrails.com says
I liked Broken Wings more than Angel Eyes and hope Shannon Dittemore is improving as she goes. The cliff hanger endings make me supremely unhappy! Waiting until August 20 for The Dark Halo.
Captain Travis says
To be honest, while I'm sure this is an interesting pair of books based on how you describe the writing, overall your review leaves me with the impression of "Thanks, but no thanks."
A demon named "Damien"?…er, that's not very original…a girl with a special spiritual power…with a purely 100% good love interest?…
I guess I'm drawn to new ideas and not just good writing. And the story ideas you mention are pretty well-used…
Writer4Christ says
Okay I'm putting this on my to-read list. :)
Rebecca LuElla Miller says
Gillian, I'm glad you tied the two books together. There's no doubt readers need the whole story, not just the middle third.
I don't know how many of us have started our reviews with, I don't normally like angel books, but … or some version thereof. Shannon's work supervenes the genre. Love her characters, the mysteries in her plots, the deep themes that she weaves seamlessly into the story.
I'm glad to know others appreciate the books as well. ;-)
Becky