Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Katherine Tegen Books (2011), Hardcover, 384 pages
Description
Mythology. Romance. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: 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..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Angelfire is the successful combination of several elements of recent paranormal YA trends. There are demons, angels, reincarnation, an alternate world in which only the supernatural can travel, battles to save mankind and even a little bit of romance. While it might appear old and stale, Ms.
Ellie is an incredibly sympathetic heroine. The reader knows that there is more to her than meets the eye, and the revelations that abruptly become known to her are of such a shocking nature that most people would end up medicated in order to be able to recover from them. Instead, Ellie shoulders her burdens with a sense of responsibility that is admirable. The teen angst that epitomizes this genre is absent, which allows the reader to get caught up in Ellie's struggles to remember without getting bogged down among the drama.
Thankfully, the romance stays in the background, for this novel at least. It does not overshadow the greater story of Ellie's fight to save humanity but does add a fine layer of tension. Even better, Ms. Moulton thoroughly establishes the background and explains the supernatural forces at work. There is no confusion as to who is fighting what and why. Nor is there any confusion about the historical events that led Ellie to this moment. This clearly-explained back story allows the reader to simply enjoy the action as it unfolds rather than get caught up trying to figure out what is happening.
Angelfire does follow the YA trend of being a series. However, Ms. Moulton is able to balance the need for closure while creating enough interest in the remaining unanswered questions that a reader does not mind that Ellie's story has not reached its full conclusion. She does not save her big reveals for the last paragraph, which allows the reader to absorb the shock while piquing his or her interest in what the news means for future stories. That sense of frustration over abrupt cliffhangers does not exist, yet the reader's need to know what happens remains high. In other words, it is a successful transition to the next novel.
Angelfire starts slowly and builds in action, drama and tension with a surprising depth to the story that establishes it as more than just another paranormal romance YA novel. Ellie and Will make a great team, and the twists and turns will leave the reader gasping in surprise. While there is enough resolution to satisfy the reader, all is definitely not resolved in Ellie's story. I, for one, cannot wait to find out what happens next!
Thank you to GLiBA and the publisher for my copy!
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Moulton brings together the elements in a way that is fresh, exciting, and fascinating. Ellie is an incredibly sympathetic heroine. The reader knows that there is more to her than meets the eye, and the revelations that abruptly become known to her are of such a shocking nature that most people would end up medicated in order to be able to recover from them. Instead, Ellie shoulders her burdens with a sense of responsibility that is admirable. The teen angst that epitomizes this genre is absent, which allows the reader to get caught up in Ellie's struggles to remember without getting bogged down among the drama.
Thankfully, the romance stays in the background, for this novel at least. It does not overshadow the greater story of Ellie's fight to save humanity but does add a fine layer of tension. Even better, Ms. Moulton thoroughly establishes the background and explains the supernatural forces at work. There is no confusion as to who is fighting what and why. Nor is there any confusion about the historical events that led Ellie to this moment. This clearly-explained back story allows the reader to simply enjoy the action as it unfolds rather than get caught up trying to figure out what is happening.
Angelfire does follow the YA trend of being a series. However, Ms. Moulton is able to balance the need for closure while creating enough interest in the remaining unanswered questions that a reader does not mind that Ellie's story has not reached its full conclusion. She does not save her big reveals for the last paragraph, which allows the reader to absorb the shock while piquing his or her interest in what the news means for future stories. That sense of frustration over abrupt cliffhangers does not exist, yet the reader's need to know what happens remains high. In other words, it is a successful transition to the next novel.
Angelfire starts slowly and builds in action, drama and tension with a surprising depth to the story that establishes it as more than just another paranormal romance YA novel. Ellie and Will make a great team, and the twists and turns will leave the reader gasping in surprise. While there is enough resolution to satisfy the reader, all is definitely not resolved in Ellie's story. I, for one, cannot wait to find out what happens next!
Thank you to GLiBA and the publisher for my copy!
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LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
This book reminded me a lot of My Name is Memory by Ann Brasheres - although when I actually start to think about it, the only truly common theme they have is reincarnation. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Just a few reviews ago I had said I was giving up books dealing with Angels and I meant it -
Ellie is a spitfire of a character. She's confused (She's 17, of course she is confused), she has a habit of having bad luck with her cars and she is someone that she never in a million years expected to be.
There is lots and lots of action in this book - lots of flashbacks, lots of romance, lots of good, solid high school moments (I admit to rolling my eyes at the drama and thinking that Moulton has the high school girl psyche down to an artform). It made for interesting airplane reading, kept me distracted and entertained me - and that's what a book is supposed to do.
However, there were some drawbacks. The flashbacks had pages of italicized story (which is admittedly a pet peeve of mine, does anyone else find it hard to read?) and really didn't contribute that much to the story for me. There was so much action in Ellie's actual life that the addition of even more in past lives seemed a bit.. overdone. Still, that was a minority of the book and I expect there will be lots and lots of squealing from high school girls over Will after Angelfire is released.
Just a few reviews ago I had said I was giving up books dealing with Angels and I meant it -
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but I didn't expect this book to actually include angels in it (silly, huh? I mean, the name IS Angelfire). I think I was just being stupidly naive! However, that said, I didn't have as much of an issue with Moulton's angels as I did with some angels in other beautifully covered, sadly lacking in plot books out there. Ellie is a spitfire of a character. She's confused (She's 17, of course she is confused), she has a habit of having bad luck with her cars and she is someone that she never in a million years expected to be.
There is lots and lots of action in this book - lots of flashbacks, lots of romance, lots of good, solid high school moments (I admit to rolling my eyes at the drama and thinking that Moulton has the high school girl psyche down to an artform). It made for interesting airplane reading, kept me distracted and entertained me - and that's what a book is supposed to do.
However, there were some drawbacks. The flashbacks had pages of italicized story (which is admittedly a pet peeve of mine, does anyone else find it hard to read?) and really didn't contribute that much to the story for me. There was so much action in Ellie's actual life that the addition of even more in past lives seemed a bit.. overdone. Still, that was a minority of the book and I expect there will be lots and lots of squealing from high school girls over Will after Angelfire is released.
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LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
The best parts of ANGELFIRE are like an early season of Buffy where Angel and Giles have been combined into one beautiful, brooding guardian/teacher. There’s a supernatural heroine who finds out she must battle the forces of evil while trying to remain a
ANGELFIRE relies on one of my least favorite plot contrivances to make the story work: the heroine has a supernatural past that she has forgotten about and it’s up to her love interest to gradually restore her memory at key points throughout the book. The problem with this set up is that the hero, Will in this case, is already in love with Ellie, so magic of the couple falling in love is substantially minimized.
I also had some difficulty relating to Ellie. She’s a rich, spoiled, shallow teenager. Her group of friends all spend money like fiends and on her birthday, Ellie’s parents buy her an Audi. She gets drunk a lot, goes shopping for slutty Halloween costumes and her grades are likely to keep her out of college. Yet were supposed to buy that she’s a millennial old supernatural warrior know as the Preliator, the only one capable of wielding Angelfire and defeating the soul sucking Reapers. It’s a hard sell.
I did like the character of Will and especially enjoyed the training scenes he shared with Ellie, not just when he was teaching her to master her strength and abilities, but also because those scenes were when Will opened up to her and showed a vulnerable side that YA heroes rarely display. Ellie likewise lost her superficiality and became a much more likeable character.
Overall, angels are getting a lot of play in the YA market of late, and ANGELFIRE is a good though not great addition. The revelation at the end was a bit groan worthy, but there’s enough Buffy-like moments that I still enjoyed the story. The second book in the Angelfire trilogy is called WINGS OF THE WICKED and will be released in 2012.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex.
The best parts of ANGELFIRE are like an early season of Buffy where Angel and Giles have been combined into one beautiful, brooding guardian/teacher. There’s a supernatural heroine who finds out she must battle the forces of evil while trying to remain a
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normal high school girl, she has a mix of friends who help, and some serious Daddy issues.ANGELFIRE relies on one of my least favorite plot contrivances to make the story work: the heroine has a supernatural past that she has forgotten about and it’s up to her love interest to gradually restore her memory at key points throughout the book. The problem with this set up is that the hero, Will in this case, is already in love with Ellie, so magic of the couple falling in love is substantially minimized.
I also had some difficulty relating to Ellie. She’s a rich, spoiled, shallow teenager. Her group of friends all spend money like fiends and on her birthday, Ellie’s parents buy her an Audi. She gets drunk a lot, goes shopping for slutty Halloween costumes and her grades are likely to keep her out of college. Yet were supposed to buy that she’s a millennial old supernatural warrior know as the Preliator, the only one capable of wielding Angelfire and defeating the soul sucking Reapers. It’s a hard sell.
I did like the character of Will and especially enjoyed the training scenes he shared with Ellie, not just when he was teaching her to master her strength and abilities, but also because those scenes were when Will opened up to her and showed a vulnerable side that YA heroes rarely display. Ellie likewise lost her superficiality and became a much more likeable character.
Overall, angels are getting a lot of play in the YA market of late, and ANGELFIRE is a good though not great addition. The revelation at the end was a bit groan worthy, but there’s enough Buffy-like moments that I still enjoyed the story. The second book in the Angelfire trilogy is called WINGS OF THE WICKED and will be released in 2012.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex.
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LibraryThing member jinkay
If there's one word to describe Angelfire, it's gotta be action-packed. I'm not exaggerating, literally every two or so chapters, you find yourself reading about heart-pounding action scenes, either in the present time or in the MC's dreams/memories. I loved the chemistry between Ellie and Will.
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The mythology behind their story is fascinating. I’m also a little intrigued about Cadan. A must read for fans of nephlim, good vs. evil stories. I’m definitely buying this book when it comes out. Show Less
LibraryThing member Urbanfan
I am so pleased with this debut novel by Courtney Allison Moulton. Again, this is another book I would gladly live in and leave the reality of this world for a piece of Moulton's action. Her created world is exciting, full of discovery, and soul searching love.
The main character Ellie is a typical
Moulton has also brought into my life a new fictional hunk (yes, I may need therapy in real life) that I fell in love with: Will, Ellie's Guardian for 500 years. He has stood by her side in battle, watched as she has died, and waited until she is reborn. Together, they make a powerful team for the side of good. However, this Guardian has secrets of his own that add to his mystery and mystique.
Moulton's style of writing is free flowing and seamless. I read this book in two evenings, I didn't want to stop. It takes talent to get books to flow in this fashion. There are no choppy endings or awkward transitions trying to move the plot. The story meanders, taking you along with each new discovery. Moulton's characters bring you in and the reader easily gets a sense for each one and who they are in relation to the story. Even the minor characters I felt a sense of individualism. Some have not fully played their part, so you don't know all you need to yet, but they have been set up with their own individual "markers" that the reader should be able to identify them in the later books.
I don't want to give too much away, but there are exciting action scenes, great dialogue, deep self awareness and discovery, butterflies in the stomach love interests, powerful enemies, and one heck of a plot I am anxious to see unfold. I am already yearning for the next book about Ellie, Will, their friends, and that angelfire power. Angelfire is scheduled to be released February 15, 2011. This is a book you will want to pre-order and have in hand the day of! I predict this will become one of the highly anticipated YA fantasy trilogies we all will impatiently count down to with each new release. In fact, I'm already plotting how we can convince Moulton and the publishers to make this longer than a trilogy. You WILL want more (yes, pun intended.)
The main character Ellie is a typical
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high school senior who soon discovers is really not so typical. She has been reincarnated for who knows how long for the battle between good and evil. Each time she dies at the hands of her evil enemies, she will return to help keep the balance over evil conquering and bringing about the Apocalypse. What I liked about this book, is it appears to be an age old plot of God vs Satan. But, Moulton has her own version of who is fighting for whom. It is a different take from other "similar" books, which gives this story it's own feel and plot destination.Moulton has also brought into my life a new fictional hunk (yes, I may need therapy in real life) that I fell in love with: Will, Ellie's Guardian for 500 years. He has stood by her side in battle, watched as she has died, and waited until she is reborn. Together, they make a powerful team for the side of good. However, this Guardian has secrets of his own that add to his mystery and mystique.
Moulton's style of writing is free flowing and seamless. I read this book in two evenings, I didn't want to stop. It takes talent to get books to flow in this fashion. There are no choppy endings or awkward transitions trying to move the plot. The story meanders, taking you along with each new discovery. Moulton's characters bring you in and the reader easily gets a sense for each one and who they are in relation to the story. Even the minor characters I felt a sense of individualism. Some have not fully played their part, so you don't know all you need to yet, but they have been set up with their own individual "markers" that the reader should be able to identify them in the later books.
I don't want to give too much away, but there are exciting action scenes, great dialogue, deep self awareness and discovery, butterflies in the stomach love interests, powerful enemies, and one heck of a plot I am anxious to see unfold. I am already yearning for the next book about Ellie, Will, their friends, and that angelfire power. Angelfire is scheduled to be released February 15, 2011. This is a book you will want to pre-order and have in hand the day of! I predict this will become one of the highly anticipated YA fantasy trilogies we all will impatiently count down to with each new release. In fact, I'm already plotting how we can convince Moulton and the publishers to make this longer than a trilogy. You WILL want more (yes, pun intended.)
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through Traveling ARC Tours. I was very excited to read this book, based on the description it looked right up my alley. This is supposed to be the first book of a trilogy. It was a good , I really enjoyed some of Ellie's flashbacks to her past lives, but
Ellie has been having horrible nightmares. Then one day at school she sees a guy who she thinks is familiar. She finds out his name is Will and he is her Guardian. Ellie's memories and powers are slumbering but Will tells her she is a ancient soul who is reborn into human form and can wield the swords of Angelfire. As Ellie's powers awaken she is hunter by Reapers, the very creatures that only she can kill. The evil Reapers are trying to awaken something ancient and evil, and only Will and Ellie can stop them.
This book reminded me a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; except with Reapers instead of Vampires. Ellie is kind of a girly girl, but not too over the top. I enjoyed her character; as a character Ellie was sweet and had a good sense of humor. Will was also an excellent character, although very serious. The two have pretty good chemistry and make a good team; I enjoyed that they didn't immediately fall head over heels for each other with no explanation.
I loved the action scenes in the book and really enjoyed the flashbacks into Ellie's past lives. These were very well done and engaging. I also liked how the plot was big, we are talking preventing the end of the world type of stuff which is always entertaining to read about. Unfortunately I also have some complaints.
My biggest complaint is two-fold. First the Ellie that we go through every day life with is not consistant with the Ellie in the action scenes; it is like reading about two different people. I know that her eternal soul kind of takes over in fight scenes; but it is still supposed to be Ellie, right? I wish her character had a bit more consistency in these parts. Second a lot of time is spent discussing Ellie's school life; who likes who, how she is going to get her homework done, etc. She spends a lot of time being chastized for her grades slipping or for not putting enough time into school projects. Maybe all of this is supposed to make Ellie more human and easier to relate to...I just found these parts boring and they seemed to drag on. I wanted to read more about the Reapers, understand better how the Grim worked, and see more of this awesome world within our human world.
The Grim is there, it reminds a lot of the Grey in Kat Richardson's Harper Blaine series, but it is never explained very well...we only get a vague idea of what it means and how it can be used. I didn't like that so much depth was put into Ellie's school life and yet the awesome and intriguing parts of this world are just barely sketched out. I guess from the synopsis I was looking for something creative, dangerous, and action packed...what I got was basically a version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but with less time spent on discussing the actual training Ellie goes through.
Moulton does throw a whopper of a surprise at you towards the end of the book, so I was happy to have something there that caught me by surprise. The story is nicely wrapped up; although definitely the first book of a series. The writing is well done and readable, if nothing really outstanding.
Overall it was a good book. I wanted to like it more than I did. I did love the flashback scenes of Ellie's past and enjoyed some of the fight scenes between Ellie and the Reapers. There was too much dealing with everyday high school life and not enough immersion in the world Ellie is introduced to. The writing was good, but didn't blow me away. I was hoping for more and was left feeling a little dissatisfied...in many ways this reminded of a number of other young adult books that are already out there. If you are into books where a high school girl gains super powers and then falls for a hot boy she technically can't have then this is the book for you.
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I didn't enjoy the amount of time she spent trying to balance school work with her training.Ellie has been having horrible nightmares. Then one day at school she sees a guy who she thinks is familiar. She finds out his name is Will and he is her Guardian. Ellie's memories and powers are slumbering but Will tells her she is a ancient soul who is reborn into human form and can wield the swords of Angelfire. As Ellie's powers awaken she is hunter by Reapers, the very creatures that only she can kill. The evil Reapers are trying to awaken something ancient and evil, and only Will and Ellie can stop them.
This book reminded me a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; except with Reapers instead of Vampires. Ellie is kind of a girly girl, but not too over the top. I enjoyed her character; as a character Ellie was sweet and had a good sense of humor. Will was also an excellent character, although very serious. The two have pretty good chemistry and make a good team; I enjoyed that they didn't immediately fall head over heels for each other with no explanation.
I loved the action scenes in the book and really enjoyed the flashbacks into Ellie's past lives. These were very well done and engaging. I also liked how the plot was big, we are talking preventing the end of the world type of stuff which is always entertaining to read about. Unfortunately I also have some complaints.
My biggest complaint is two-fold. First the Ellie that we go through every day life with is not consistant with the Ellie in the action scenes; it is like reading about two different people. I know that her eternal soul kind of takes over in fight scenes; but it is still supposed to be Ellie, right? I wish her character had a bit more consistency in these parts. Second a lot of time is spent discussing Ellie's school life; who likes who, how she is going to get her homework done, etc. She spends a lot of time being chastized for her grades slipping or for not putting enough time into school projects. Maybe all of this is supposed to make Ellie more human and easier to relate to...I just found these parts boring and they seemed to drag on. I wanted to read more about the Reapers, understand better how the Grim worked, and see more of this awesome world within our human world.
The Grim is there, it reminds a lot of the Grey in Kat Richardson's Harper Blaine series, but it is never explained very well...we only get a vague idea of what it means and how it can be used. I didn't like that so much depth was put into Ellie's school life and yet the awesome and intriguing parts of this world are just barely sketched out. I guess from the synopsis I was looking for something creative, dangerous, and action packed...what I got was basically a version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but with less time spent on discussing the actual training Ellie goes through.
Moulton does throw a whopper of a surprise at you towards the end of the book, so I was happy to have something there that caught me by surprise. The story is nicely wrapped up; although definitely the first book of a series. The writing is well done and readable, if nothing really outstanding.
Overall it was a good book. I wanted to like it more than I did. I did love the flashback scenes of Ellie's past and enjoyed some of the fight scenes between Ellie and the Reapers. There was too much dealing with everyday high school life and not enough immersion in the world Ellie is introduced to. The writing was good, but didn't blow me away. I was hoping for more and was left feeling a little dissatisfied...in many ways this reminded of a number of other young adult books that are already out there. If you are into books where a high school girl gains super powers and then falls for a hot boy she technically can't have then this is the book for you.
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LibraryThing member LLL808
Angelfire is indeed filled with Blistering Action all the while maintaining a sweet and gradual romance.
Ellie is a mix between being a normal teen and a lethal weapon for the good side. I enjoyed the complexity with trying to be a normal teen of going to the movies, attending parties and naming her
The best part is the action. The fighting scenes are written with excitement. Especially, after seeing the cover it is amazing to actually read about Ellie wielding her Khopesh swords. Then there is her Guardian, Will, who moves like liquid- swift and quick. Moulton does not spare the fighters. They are put through the ringer. When Ellie's nightmares become reality and see can see into the grim and the reapers that hide there she is immediately engulfed into this world she can't seem to remember from past lives.
Ellie's Mother is also a treat. Mostly, parents seem to be non-existent in YA novels but her Mother was around. Granted maybe not as well since she could sneak out nightly. However, I think she was written perfectly to offset the father. I found Ellie's mom's solutions fair although as a mom myself I would do a few things differently.
The downside is I feel a bit confused or left hanging. Ellie's father and his aggression is mentioned often. I was hoping to get down to the nit and grit of why that is. We are told that he was a loving father at one time but then something change. How come? Does it have something to do with who Ellie really is and her purpose on Earth or is it a martial/mid0life crisis thing. Another confusion comes towards the ending when Ellie learns who she really is. I don't think I can fully explain without giving away a key element to the mystery. It's not a big deal but I am hoping to eventually discuss this with someone else when they read it as well.
All in all, Angelfire is a great read. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves YA paranormal romance. The intended audience will love this one and adults who enjoy YA will too.
Ellie is a mix between being a normal teen and a lethal weapon for the good side. I enjoyed the complexity with trying to be a normal teen of going to the movies, attending parties and naming her
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first car Marshmellow then learning that she has powers which has her protecting mankind.The best part is the action. The fighting scenes are written with excitement. Especially, after seeing the cover it is amazing to actually read about Ellie wielding her Khopesh swords. Then there is her Guardian, Will, who moves like liquid- swift and quick. Moulton does not spare the fighters. They are put through the ringer. When Ellie's nightmares become reality and see can see into the grim and the reapers that hide there she is immediately engulfed into this world she can't seem to remember from past lives.
Ellie's Mother is also a treat. Mostly, parents seem to be non-existent in YA novels but her Mother was around. Granted maybe not as well since she could sneak out nightly. However, I think she was written perfectly to offset the father. I found Ellie's mom's solutions fair although as a mom myself I would do a few things differently.
The downside is I feel a bit confused or left hanging. Ellie's father and his aggression is mentioned often. I was hoping to get down to the nit and grit of why that is. We are told that he was a loving father at one time but then something change. How come? Does it have something to do with who Ellie really is and her purpose on Earth or is it a martial/mid0life crisis thing. Another confusion comes towards the ending when Ellie learns who she really is. I don't think I can fully explain without giving away a key element to the mystery. It's not a big deal but I am hoping to eventually discuss this with someone else when they read it as well.
All in all, Angelfire is a great read. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves YA paranormal romance. The intended audience will love this one and adults who enjoy YA will too.
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
Ellie is having a great birthday—good friends, a new car—until the arrival of a nightmarish monster. With the help of Will, an unusual young man who claims to be her guardian, Ellie learns that she is the Preliator, the only person able to defeat the evil Reapers who wander in and out of this
As Ellie’s memories slowly return to her and she retrains her Preliator abilities, there seems to be a a far more sinister plot, in which evil forces are conspiring to destroy her once and for all. With Will’s help, can Ellie save herself as well as the world from an evil takeover?
With fighting, evil creatures, romance, and typical high school drama, Courtney Moulton’s paranormal debut will be one that fans of paranormal action will want to get their hands on. The writing is a little on the elementary side, but unless you’re like me and really notice those things as you read, it won’t deter you from having an awesome time reading.
The premise of ANGELFIRE is just cool and works well. A teenage girl coming into her destiny of killing monsters, aided by a cute guy with whom she shares a history that she can’t remember…it sounds cool, and what’s more, it actually is. I enjoyed reading about Ellie’s training and fighting experiences. The progressive relationship between her and Will is wonderfully done, an attraction that grows out of genuinely spending time with someone and getting to know them.
ANGELFIRE does contain the expected amount of melodrama for a YA paranormal romance, however. Ellie’s repossession of her Preliator memories is inconsistent at best and feels more like an opportunity for Will to continue keeping enigmatically mum about their shared past. Ellie seems to live in a charmed world. Despite her reaper troubles and her struggles to come to terms with her seemingly inevitable destiny, she has a pretty nice life: she enjoys a fair amount of status in the high school social circles, boys crush on her, and she and her friends think nothing of their parents buying them brand new cars for their birthdays or buying a new outfit for each new social outing they go to. Ellie’s life, and the way she interacts with supporting characters, just felt a little unnatural to me.
Thankfully, however, ANGELFIRE offers different YA paranormal romance fare in that Ellie is a protagonist who actually stands on her own two feet and attempts to solve her problems on her own. Readers who have not yet tired of paranormal romance yet are beginning to weary of a constant parade of all-too-bland protagonists should be able to greatly enjoy Courtney Allison Moulton’s debut.
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world and the Grim and harvest human souls. She is reincarnated every time she is finally beaten by a Reaper, and Will has waited for her each time for over half a millennium.As Ellie’s memories slowly return to her and she retrains her Preliator abilities, there seems to be a a far more sinister plot, in which evil forces are conspiring to destroy her once and for all. With Will’s help, can Ellie save herself as well as the world from an evil takeover?
With fighting, evil creatures, romance, and typical high school drama, Courtney Moulton’s paranormal debut will be one that fans of paranormal action will want to get their hands on. The writing is a little on the elementary side, but unless you’re like me and really notice those things as you read, it won’t deter you from having an awesome time reading.
The premise of ANGELFIRE is just cool and works well. A teenage girl coming into her destiny of killing monsters, aided by a cute guy with whom she shares a history that she can’t remember…it sounds cool, and what’s more, it actually is. I enjoyed reading about Ellie’s training and fighting experiences. The progressive relationship between her and Will is wonderfully done, an attraction that grows out of genuinely spending time with someone and getting to know them.
ANGELFIRE does contain the expected amount of melodrama for a YA paranormal romance, however. Ellie’s repossession of her Preliator memories is inconsistent at best and feels more like an opportunity for Will to continue keeping enigmatically mum about their shared past. Ellie seems to live in a charmed world. Despite her reaper troubles and her struggles to come to terms with her seemingly inevitable destiny, she has a pretty nice life: she enjoys a fair amount of status in the high school social circles, boys crush on her, and she and her friends think nothing of their parents buying them brand new cars for their birthdays or buying a new outfit for each new social outing they go to. Ellie’s life, and the way she interacts with supporting characters, just felt a little unnatural to me.
Thankfully, however, ANGELFIRE offers different YA paranormal romance fare in that Ellie is a protagonist who actually stands on her own two feet and attempts to solve her problems on her own. Readers who have not yet tired of paranormal romance yet are beginning to weary of a constant parade of all-too-bland protagonists should be able to greatly enjoy Courtney Allison Moulton’s debut.
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
One thing I love about books is the idea of them. I love to read books where it present a unique idea or theme. Angelfire is a unique book. With the idea of reapers, angels, and reincarnations, Ms. Moulton certainly gave the literature world a great adventure.The minute I started this book, it one
Elli's nightmares are getting worse. No matter what she does, they get more realistic and more tiring each and every night. A young man by the name of Will, appears in her life, spawning a lifetime of secrets that she never knew before. She's has had hundreds of lives in which she fought reapers who steal the souls of humans. Now that her power has awakened once more, she must fight to save the lives of those she loves.
The adventure and the fighting in this book was phenomenal! I really enjoyed Elli kicking butt and remembering her past lives. Each times she fought another reaper, she got better and better, wielding herself into the warrior that she is. She began to find herself and her destiny.
I also enjoyed the romance in this book. Not only did it play out well, but it gave the notion that there was something more between Ellie and Will. I love the mysteriousness of it. It gave me something to look forward to while reading. The whole relationship was quite a surprise. I hope that it can work out for them in the end.
Ms. Moulton did a great job capturing the voice of a teenage girl combined with the whole reaper made for an excellent recipe I could enjoy. Elli was strong, beautiful, and smart. I also like how she incorporated her own love for horses in the book. It nice to see the author put something about themselves in their writing.
This is one debut author that has left me begging for more. Much more!
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was that I knew I could not put down.Elli's nightmares are getting worse. No matter what she does, they get more realistic and more tiring each and every night. A young man by the name of Will, appears in her life, spawning a lifetime of secrets that she never knew before. She's has had hundreds of lives in which she fought reapers who steal the souls of humans. Now that her power has awakened once more, she must fight to save the lives of those she loves.
The adventure and the fighting in this book was phenomenal! I really enjoyed Elli kicking butt and remembering her past lives. Each times she fought another reaper, she got better and better, wielding herself into the warrior that she is. She began to find herself and her destiny.
I also enjoyed the romance in this book. Not only did it play out well, but it gave the notion that there was something more between Ellie and Will. I love the mysteriousness of it. It gave me something to look forward to while reading. The whole relationship was quite a surprise. I hope that it can work out for them in the end.
Ms. Moulton did a great job capturing the voice of a teenage girl combined with the whole reaper made for an excellent recipe I could enjoy. Elli was strong, beautiful, and smart. I also like how she incorporated her own love for horses in the book. It nice to see the author put something about themselves in their writing.
This is one debut author that has left me begging for more. Much more!
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LibraryThing member dasuzuki
I don't know if I'm YA-ed out since this is the second YA book in a row that I had a hard time getting into. The beginning dragged for me and there are a couple times where Will "slams" his palm against Ellie's forehead to awaken her memories and for the longest time I was just picturing this hot
I loved Will's character. He was hot with cool tattoos and the sweetest guy. He appears in Ellie's life and although is totally devoted to her as her guardian he avoids being the creepy stalker guy. He has this intriguing past that he doles out throughout the book and leaves you wanting to dig deeper into his past. Ellie on the other hand comes across as a little spoiled and I had a harder time liking her. She lives a life where it apparently is nothing special to get a brand new car from her parents, buys designer shoes and dresses without a thought. Then she was totally clueless about one of her guy friends liking her even after he buys her a bunch of roses and follows her around like a puppy dog. But her redeeming quality is the fact that she does not immediately fall head over heels over Will upon first meeting him. Sometimes it bugs me when a girl falls for a guy upon first sight. I know there are some who are into the whole love at first sight but immediately falling for a guy who could potentially be a crazy stalker is kind of creepy to me. She also has the ability to kick ass and literally bring down buildings with her bare hands.
The developing romance was my favorite part of this book. I loved the fact that they aren't immediately all over each other. I felt like their romance built up through the story and even though you knew it would happen eventually it developed at a nice pace. I love the twist at the end that throws the monkey wrench into the romance. It wasn't something I was expecting and I wonder what is going to happen between the two of them in the next book.
As for the story about why Ellie keeps getting reincarnated it was a little confusing and I don't get why Will feels the need to be so secretive about Ellie's past lives. He keeps insisting the memories will come back to her but doesn't he thinking talking about it my help the memories come back faster?
Still once the action gets rolling I started getting into the book and when I reached the last page I could not believe it ended the way it did. I was thinking "Seriously?! You are ending it there? Such a tease!" They definitely leave you hanging and wanting to get your hands on the next book.
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guy smacking her on her forehead like she's an idiot. Then at one point one of the bad guys says something along the lines of I'll be back for you. For you and your guardian. So I kept thinking "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too." Once I got over these strange random thoughts and about half way through the book I finally starting getting into it.I loved Will's character. He was hot with cool tattoos and the sweetest guy. He appears in Ellie's life and although is totally devoted to her as her guardian he avoids being the creepy stalker guy. He has this intriguing past that he doles out throughout the book and leaves you wanting to dig deeper into his past. Ellie on the other hand comes across as a little spoiled and I had a harder time liking her. She lives a life where it apparently is nothing special to get a brand new car from her parents, buys designer shoes and dresses without a thought. Then she was totally clueless about one of her guy friends liking her even after he buys her a bunch of roses and follows her around like a puppy dog. But her redeeming quality is the fact that she does not immediately fall head over heels over Will upon first meeting him. Sometimes it bugs me when a girl falls for a guy upon first sight. I know there are some who are into the whole love at first sight but immediately falling for a guy who could potentially be a crazy stalker is kind of creepy to me. She also has the ability to kick ass and literally bring down buildings with her bare hands.
The developing romance was my favorite part of this book. I loved the fact that they aren't immediately all over each other. I felt like their romance built up through the story and even though you knew it would happen eventually it developed at a nice pace. I love the twist at the end that throws the monkey wrench into the romance. It wasn't something I was expecting and I wonder what is going to happen between the two of them in the next book.
As for the story about why Ellie keeps getting reincarnated it was a little confusing and I don't get why Will feels the need to be so secretive about Ellie's past lives. He keeps insisting the memories will come back to her but doesn't he thinking talking about it my help the memories come back faster?
Still once the action gets rolling I started getting into the book and when I reached the last page I could not believe it ended the way it did. I was thinking "Seriously?! You are ending it there? Such a tease!" They definitely leave you hanging and wanting to get your hands on the next book.
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LibraryThing member RamonaWray
Reminiscent of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Recommended to fans of the series.
LibraryThing member renkellym
Oh. My. Goodness. Angelfire was absolutely amazing. I could not put it down. In fact, I may or may not have seriously procrastinated on studying to read this book.
Let’s start with the writing. Courtney Allison Moulton does a fantastic job of capturing the reader’s attention with numerous fight
I absolutely loved Ellie as a protagonist. She was such a BAMF! If you asked me to pick a YA heroine who is “strong” and “tough”, I’d definitely pick Ellie. She faces both family and paranormal problems, and thought she has her wavering moments, she comes out on top in the end.
It was really neat how Ellie went from being a shallow party girl to a serious warrior within a few chapters! The development of her character through memories of past lives was very interesting, too.
Second to my love for Ellie is my love for Will. I’d say he’s in the top five of my “YA love interests” list. He’s dark and brooding like any other YA hero, but he has a great sense of humor and a love for Ellie that stretches centuries. I love how he treats Ellie—although he’s her Guardian, he acknowledges that she’s way stronger than he’ll ever be, and he doesn’t stifle her at all. He’s a perfect balance of protector and partner. (Also, I totally melted every time Will got awkward in a social situation. Cute!)
Angelfire not only has amazing characters—it has an amazing storyline, too. From Ellie’s first encounter with the reapers, I knew that Angelfire was going to keep me captivated, and it did! The story was action-packed and filled with twists and turns (and the ending! Aah!). The author’s incorporation of Fallen angels was definitely original, and I loved the reaper concept. Their history is well fleshed-out and makes a lot of sense.
If you can’t tell, I’m a HUGE fan of Angelfire. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone! I’ll for sure be buying a finished copy, and I can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy! (Ellie and Will must somehow be together! They’re too adorable!)
Let’s start with the writing. Courtney Allison Moulton does a fantastic job of capturing the reader’s attention with numerous fight
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scenes (well-choreographed fight scenes, might I add) and horrifying reapers. There is rarely a moment of down time for poor Ellie (though I can’t complain, because I really, really loved the battles). The writing is fast-paced yet highly descriptive, and it fit with the storyline perfectly. I also think that Angelfire could easily be a movie. Just saying. I absolutely loved Ellie as a protagonist. She was such a BAMF! If you asked me to pick a YA heroine who is “strong” and “tough”, I’d definitely pick Ellie. She faces both family and paranormal problems, and thought she has her wavering moments, she comes out on top in the end.
It was really neat how Ellie went from being a shallow party girl to a serious warrior within a few chapters! The development of her character through memories of past lives was very interesting, too.
Second to my love for Ellie is my love for Will. I’d say he’s in the top five of my “YA love interests” list. He’s dark and brooding like any other YA hero, but he has a great sense of humor and a love for Ellie that stretches centuries. I love how he treats Ellie—although he’s her Guardian, he acknowledges that she’s way stronger than he’ll ever be, and he doesn’t stifle her at all. He’s a perfect balance of protector and partner. (Also, I totally melted every time Will got awkward in a social situation. Cute!)
Angelfire not only has amazing characters—it has an amazing storyline, too. From Ellie’s first encounter with the reapers, I knew that Angelfire was going to keep me captivated, and it did! The story was action-packed and filled with twists and turns (and the ending! Aah!). The author’s incorporation of Fallen angels was definitely original, and I loved the reaper concept. Their history is well fleshed-out and makes a lot of sense.
If you can’t tell, I’m a HUGE fan of Angelfire. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone! I’ll for sure be buying a finished copy, and I can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy! (Ellie and Will must somehow be together! They’re too adorable!)
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LibraryThing member MadSteampunkery
By: Courtney Allison Moulton
Published: HarperCollins
Release Date: February 2011
eBook 291Pages
Cover Art: Hard to say, I don't love it or hate it and I certainly like it more now that I am finished with the book.
Tags: Young Adult, Teen Paranormal Romance
First Line: I Stared out the classroom window
Why the Mad Scientist Read this Book: Thanks to the our dear NetGalley and friends at HarperCollins I was able to obtain this most wonderful eARC in replace of a honest and truly Mad take on this book. *shakes head* Are they sure?
Concoction of a Review: I admit that when I started Angelfire the Mad Scientist had no clue (even more then normal) what this book was about. Ok, besides the female on the front with some amazing looking blades. *wonders* Could I carry that sword and a parasol at the same time? The point is I had no idea what I was getting into, I did not even know that this book was young adult. Now that we know that, I will tell you that I was floored by this book!
I flew through this book devouring every word and chapter as I went. It felt short, but not in a bad way at all. Come to find out that the book is 400+ pages in real book form. WoW! Yes, I was floored. Courtney Allison Moulton had the Mad Scientist at page 1!
Our Heroine, Ellie, is a normal everyday teenage high school girl who wants a car, to hang out with her friends, has a donkey behind of a father, and wants move forward to a decent college. Wait a moment all... you can scratch that. Ellie is a Preliator who has been reincarnated since before Christ. You might ask, "What is that?" I know I did! A Preliator is none other then a lovely female warrior who holds a whirlwind of ancient power who goes around killing hellish demons that we call reapers. Ellie is the host to all of this power but she wouldn't know a lick of what to do without a our gorgeous Will. *swoon*
Will is her Guardian who has been by her side for over 500 years and is now helping her gain her memory from her previous lives. Soon our heroine is also swooning over said Guardian and sneaking out of the house to be with him. They might deny their attraction but it is so powerful. Soon we find out even more behind the stoic Guardian. Ellie saved his life but there is no sacrifice too small or big that he wouldn't do for her. It is very clear that Will's existence for no other purpose then for Ellie, too keep her safe that is. Tender. *smirk* Ellie has to learn how to wield her sword, call Angelfire, and why she goes around killing reapers.
Ellie has all of this power and sexy Guardian by her side but all she wants is the good old days... friends, her father's love, and when she didn't have to lie so much. Her old life is no longer on the front lines. She is apart of a huge supernatural battle that has been going on for years. Many reaper fear her greatly. No matter what the reapers cannot win the larger battle, the cost would be too great to even fathom.
Which leads us to the action packed battle scenes. Courtney's writing has you right along in all of the action. Her crisp words make you cringe when you are supposed to and be excited when Ellie kicks reaper behind. Buildings were being knocked down, mailboxes were being splintered, and there was even an amazing epic battle in the middle of the ocean. Yes, epic.
I am looking forward to reading. Scratch that, I can barely wait to read "Wings Of The Wicked" (Angelfire #2) and "Hymn To The Fallen "(Angelfire # 3).
4.98 Blasts
Quotes:
Mom frowned. "You have to be smarter than the pancakes, Ellie."
The next morning, my head and every muscle in my body hurt as if I'd run a marathon through six feet of snow in stilettos.
You're six hundred years old and a root beer float is your favorite food?
Published: HarperCollins
Release Date: February 2011
eBook 291Pages
Cover Art: Hard to say, I don't love it or hate it and I certainly like it more now that I am finished with the book.
Tags: Young Adult, Teen Paranormal Romance
First Line: I Stared out the classroom window
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I longed for freedom, wanting to be anywhere in the world other than gaping up at my economics teacher like the rest of my classmates.Why the Mad Scientist Read this Book: Thanks to the our dear NetGalley and friends at HarperCollins I was able to obtain this most wonderful eARC in replace of a honest and truly Mad take on this book. *shakes head* Are they sure?
Concoction of a Review: I admit that when I started Angelfire the Mad Scientist had no clue (even more then normal) what this book was about. Ok, besides the female on the front with some amazing looking blades. *wonders* Could I carry that sword and a parasol at the same time? The point is I had no idea what I was getting into, I did not even know that this book was young adult. Now that we know that, I will tell you that I was floored by this book!
I flew through this book devouring every word and chapter as I went. It felt short, but not in a bad way at all. Come to find out that the book is 400+ pages in real book form. WoW! Yes, I was floored. Courtney Allison Moulton had the Mad Scientist at page 1!
Our Heroine, Ellie, is a normal everyday teenage high school girl who wants a car, to hang out with her friends, has a donkey behind of a father, and wants move forward to a decent college. Wait a moment all... you can scratch that. Ellie is a Preliator who has been reincarnated since before Christ. You might ask, "What is that?" I know I did! A Preliator is none other then a lovely female warrior who holds a whirlwind of ancient power who goes around killing hellish demons that we call reapers. Ellie is the host to all of this power but she wouldn't know a lick of what to do without a our gorgeous Will. *swoon*
Will is her Guardian who has been by her side for over 500 years and is now helping her gain her memory from her previous lives. Soon our heroine is also swooning over said Guardian and sneaking out of the house to be with him. They might deny their attraction but it is so powerful. Soon we find out even more behind the stoic Guardian. Ellie saved his life but there is no sacrifice too small or big that he wouldn't do for her. It is very clear that Will's existence for no other purpose then for Ellie, too keep her safe that is. Tender. *smirk* Ellie has to learn how to wield her sword, call Angelfire, and why she goes around killing reapers.
Ellie has all of this power and sexy Guardian by her side but all she wants is the good old days... friends, her father's love, and when she didn't have to lie so much. Her old life is no longer on the front lines. She is apart of a huge supernatural battle that has been going on for years. Many reaper fear her greatly. No matter what the reapers cannot win the larger battle, the cost would be too great to even fathom.
Which leads us to the action packed battle scenes. Courtney's writing has you right along in all of the action. Her crisp words make you cringe when you are supposed to and be excited when Ellie kicks reaper behind. Buildings were being knocked down, mailboxes were being splintered, and there was even an amazing epic battle in the middle of the ocean. Yes, epic.
I am looking forward to reading. Scratch that, I can barely wait to read "Wings Of The Wicked" (Angelfire #2) and "Hymn To The Fallen "(Angelfire # 3).
4.98 Blasts
Quotes:
Mom frowned. "You have to be smarter than the pancakes, Ellie."
The next morning, my head and every muscle in my body hurt as if I'd run a marathon through six feet of snow in stilettos.
You're six hundred years old and a root beer float is your favorite food?
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LibraryThing member Bibliotropic
I confess, I didn't have high hopes for this book. It started out with a few bits that made me roll my eyes (girl seeing random guy from a distance and having tender feelings in her heart for him even though she's never seen him before? Yawn...), but as I gave it more of a chance, it actually
The story centres around Ellie, who, through the course of the story, discovers not only that her terrifying nightmares are past-life memories, but that she's also destined to destroy the demonic creatures that are killing people and sending their souls to Hell in order to beef up Lucifer's army for the Second War against God. Woven into the story is her relationship with Will, her Guardian who has sworn to protect her even at the cost of his life. Each time Ellie dies, she is reborn, and Lucifer's armies are searching for a weapon that could destroy Ellie completely and prevent her future rebirths.
Moulton certainly does have a talent for writing teenagers as teenagers, not some saccharine uber-teen who never puts a toe out of line and always manages to balanace everything in their lives except for when it's a plot point for them to mess up. These kids drink, they get sexy, they have parental issues, and fret about their homework while simultaneously blowing it off. They were very real, and very easy to relate to. Even for me, and considering that I was the ultimate outcast when I was a teen, that's saying something!
The novel does have a few weaknesses, but they may be getting a little picky. Lauren's surname of Tsukino hearkened to Japanese episodes of Sailor Moon, and lo and behold, Ellie's internal monologue mentions she has Sailor Moon DVDs. (Methinks the author's a fan...) Ellie is revealed to be the archangel Gabriel in human form... and nobody thinks it's odd that an established male angel according to mythology keeps being reborn as a female, to the point where even the archangel Michael calls her his sister. Perhaps later books in the trilogy will address the gender discrepancy, I don't know.
The book did also give way to a bit of sexism even as it tried to break the mold. Comments like, "You don't exactly hit like a girl," and the statement that all girls are hardwired to want a white knight in their lives left me annoyed; as much as this book does have a hefty dose of girl-power and a kick-ass female protagonist, it did fall prey to gender stereotypes. I can chalk that up to realism in the characterization (let's face it, people still think that way very often), but that doesn't mean I have to like it when it appears.
But aside from that, Angelfire was a surprisingly good book, well thought out, and it balanced action and intrigue with dialogue and information-feeding. Considering I went into the book skeptical as to whether I'd enjoy it, I'd say it was a success, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy when it's released, and more of Moulton's work later on.
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impressed me, and I closed the book feeling more satisfied than when I opened it.The story centres around Ellie, who, through the course of the story, discovers not only that her terrifying nightmares are past-life memories, but that she's also destined to destroy the demonic creatures that are killing people and sending their souls to Hell in order to beef up Lucifer's army for the Second War against God. Woven into the story is her relationship with Will, her Guardian who has sworn to protect her even at the cost of his life. Each time Ellie dies, she is reborn, and Lucifer's armies are searching for a weapon that could destroy Ellie completely and prevent her future rebirths.
Moulton certainly does have a talent for writing teenagers as teenagers, not some saccharine uber-teen who never puts a toe out of line and always manages to balanace everything in their lives except for when it's a plot point for them to mess up. These kids drink, they get sexy, they have parental issues, and fret about their homework while simultaneously blowing it off. They were very real, and very easy to relate to. Even for me, and considering that I was the ultimate outcast when I was a teen, that's saying something!
The novel does have a few weaknesses, but they may be getting a little picky. Lauren's surname of Tsukino hearkened to Japanese episodes of Sailor Moon, and lo and behold, Ellie's internal monologue mentions she has Sailor Moon DVDs. (Methinks the author's a fan...) Ellie is revealed to be the archangel Gabriel in human form... and nobody thinks it's odd that an established male angel according to mythology keeps being reborn as a female, to the point where even the archangel Michael calls her his sister. Perhaps later books in the trilogy will address the gender discrepancy, I don't know.
The book did also give way to a bit of sexism even as it tried to break the mold. Comments like, "You don't exactly hit like a girl," and the statement that all girls are hardwired to want a white knight in their lives left me annoyed; as much as this book does have a hefty dose of girl-power and a kick-ass female protagonist, it did fall prey to gender stereotypes. I can chalk that up to realism in the characterization (let's face it, people still think that way very often), but that doesn't mean I have to like it when it appears.
But aside from that, Angelfire was a surprisingly good book, well thought out, and it balanced action and intrigue with dialogue and information-feeding. Considering I went into the book skeptical as to whether I'd enjoy it, I'd say it was a success, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy when it's released, and more of Moulton's work later on.
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LibraryThing member IceyBooks
Angelfire was high on my must-read list. It seemed like everyone rated it as action-packed and fastpaced. That must be why it was such a big disappointment for me - it didn't live up to its hype.
Ellie is a normal 16 year old. Well, almost normal. Her grades are dropping and her 17th birthday's
She finds out that she's been doing this - killing reapers and protecting humans - for centuries. Yes, hundreds of years. She'll die, but her soul reincarnates again. But the demonic reapers have come across something that may end her life forever, so that she'll never come back.
Why didn't Angelfire live up to its hype for me? For one, the action-packed and fast-paced part was sort of lacking. I thought it was pretty predictable and I sort of guessed some of the moves before they happened. And sometimes it moved a little too slow. However, that wasn't really an issue, I don't mind not being action-packed.
My real problem was that it contained way to many references to religion. We're talking about divine forms (God, angels by name), heaven, and hell - it was a little TOO much, for my liking. I confess, I actually skipped past those parts, and I think, out of the 291 pages (in the eARC), I may have skipped 15-20 pages total.
For some of you, religious references may not be an issue, based on your beliefs, but to me, it was an issue. I think YA fiction and religion are two concepts meant to be kept FAR AWAY from each other.
Why I didn't rate it lower? I think the debut author deserves credit for the unique plot and the characters, who seemed like the average humans they were trying to depict (not like some novels where the charcters are unnaturally perfect or pratically emotionless, know what I mean?).
I was really disappointed with the outcome of Angelfire for me. I expected so much out of it, but I'm not sure what happened. It's not an outright "no", but it's not what I would pick up immediately if I had a second chance.
Ellie is a normal 16 year old. Well, almost normal. Her grades are dropping and her 17th birthday's
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coming up with a huge party. Enter Will, her Guardian, supposed to protect and aid her in killing reapers - wolf-like creatures that eat humans and send their souls straight to Hell.She finds out that she's been doing this - killing reapers and protecting humans - for centuries. Yes, hundreds of years. She'll die, but her soul reincarnates again. But the demonic reapers have come across something that may end her life forever, so that she'll never come back.
Why didn't Angelfire live up to its hype for me? For one, the action-packed and fast-paced part was sort of lacking. I thought it was pretty predictable and I sort of guessed some of the moves before they happened. And sometimes it moved a little too slow. However, that wasn't really an issue, I don't mind not being action-packed.
My real problem was that it contained way to many references to religion. We're talking about divine forms (God, angels by name), heaven, and hell - it was a little TOO much, for my liking. I confess, I actually skipped past those parts, and I think, out of the 291 pages (in the eARC), I may have skipped 15-20 pages total.
For some of you, religious references may not be an issue, based on your beliefs, but to me, it was an issue. I think YA fiction and religion are two concepts meant to be kept FAR AWAY from each other.
Why I didn't rate it lower? I think the debut author deserves credit for the unique plot and the characters, who seemed like the average humans they were trying to depict (not like some novels where the charcters are unnaturally perfect or pratically emotionless, know what I mean?).
I was really disappointed with the outcome of Angelfire for me. I expected so much out of it, but I'm not sure what happened. It's not an outright "no", but it's not what I would pick up immediately if I had a second chance.
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LibraryThing member Ezinwanyi
In Angelfire, we are introduced to another Heaven vs. Hell themed book with Ellie Monroe as our heroine. She is a high school senior, who is pretty much your average teenager, except for some really disturbing nightmares.
On her 17th birthday, she meets a guy named Will and learns that she isn't
I enjoyed this story because Ellie still had attachments to her current life. She just didn't accept that she is a butt-kicking hero. In fact, Ellie struggles to maintain her current identity, while Will impatiently waits for her to come to terms with the fact that she is among a chosen group defending the human race from demonic soul reapers. There was a lot of action, and a lot of typical teenage escapes (sneaking vodka etc).
Will, her guardian, was my favorite character. Now talk about internal struggle. While he came off as a bit obnoxious, we learned that he was trying to hide his real feelings. Like an onion, the author kept peeling away each layer and at the end, I truly felt for him.
Her best friend Kate was a close second because she added a lot of humor into this book.
I also loved her relationship with her mother, which was quite opposite from her relationship her dad. I am really curious to know if her dad is a reincarnation of evil because the way he hates her isn't quite normal.
This author did a good job with the first book of this new series and I look forward to the next book. One thing that I would like is for the author to have glossary with all the terms and demon names. I would also recommend a flow chart with for both the good and the evil factions. It was hard keeping up with all the various demonic levels under Bastian and Lucifer.
On her 17th birthday, she meets a guy named Will and learns that she isn't
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really a normal 17 year old, but The Preliator--a demon-fighting heroine. With the help of Will, her guardian, she begins to regain some of her past memories. We learn that she is reincarnated every time she is killed in battle. So she has been alive for centuries, fighting evil across the globe.I enjoyed this story because Ellie still had attachments to her current life. She just didn't accept that she is a butt-kicking hero. In fact, Ellie struggles to maintain her current identity, while Will impatiently waits for her to come to terms with the fact that she is among a chosen group defending the human race from demonic soul reapers. There was a lot of action, and a lot of typical teenage escapes (sneaking vodka etc).
Will, her guardian, was my favorite character. Now talk about internal struggle. While he came off as a bit obnoxious, we learned that he was trying to hide his real feelings. Like an onion, the author kept peeling away each layer and at the end, I truly felt for him.
Her best friend Kate was a close second because she added a lot of humor into this book.
I also loved her relationship with her mother, which was quite opposite from her relationship her dad. I am really curious to know if her dad is a reincarnation of evil because the way he hates her isn't quite normal.
This author did a good job with the first book of this new series and I look forward to the next book. One thing that I would like is for the author to have glossary with all the terms and demon names. I would also recommend a flow chart with for both the good and the evil factions. It was hard keeping up with all the various demonic levels under Bastian and Lucifer.
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LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Ellie has spent much of her life as a normal girl, until strange things start happening. She begins having disturbing dreams that are all too real, then memories begin flooding back -memories of a life that isn't hers. Then Ellie meets Will, who helps her make sense of the strange memories jumbled
Angelfire has its ups and downs. On one hand, it's written in a believable, comfortable hand that's easy to read. Though at times short on detail, Moulton is, without a doubt, a gifted writer who can portray realistic characters, particularly with dialog that just rolls off the pages. Though I admit I didn't find any of the characters particularly compelling, I believed them -I believed that they could be real people that I may have even gone to high school with.
It also helps that these characters inhabit a world filled with fascinating mythology that is incredibly well crafted and interesting to read about. The mechanics make sense and are described in a way that's easy for the reader to become acclimated to, are fairly unique and are described in a vivid way. However, the wonderfully crafted paranormal element of Angelfire couldn't hide the fact that the plot, overall, is very boring and not particularly original. At several points I had to force myself to keep reading -there's very few twists and I was nearly really surprised by what happened next. Though this may be just the right thing for some readers, I found it borderline painful.
I had high hopes for Angelfire, maybe that's why I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. My expectations may have just been a little too high. Angelfire is quick, easy read that may be fun for teen readers who enjoy paranormal reads with great mythology, but I wouldn't give it much more credit than that. I know this is a debut novel, and Moulton shows promise, but there is still room for improvement, hopefully in future novels.
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in her head. But the answers come with a price -Ellie finds that Will is her Guardian, assigned to protect and guide her in her battle against the evil reapers that prey on human souls. Ellie must master the Angelfire, a mysterious power, and unravel the mystery behind her former lives and uncover the memories -which may just be the key to everything.Angelfire has its ups and downs. On one hand, it's written in a believable, comfortable hand that's easy to read. Though at times short on detail, Moulton is, without a doubt, a gifted writer who can portray realistic characters, particularly with dialog that just rolls off the pages. Though I admit I didn't find any of the characters particularly compelling, I believed them -I believed that they could be real people that I may have even gone to high school with.
It also helps that these characters inhabit a world filled with fascinating mythology that is incredibly well crafted and interesting to read about. The mechanics make sense and are described in a way that's easy for the reader to become acclimated to, are fairly unique and are described in a vivid way. However, the wonderfully crafted paranormal element of Angelfire couldn't hide the fact that the plot, overall, is very boring and not particularly original. At several points I had to force myself to keep reading -there's very few twists and I was nearly really surprised by what happened next. Though this may be just the right thing for some readers, I found it borderline painful.
I had high hopes for Angelfire, maybe that's why I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. My expectations may have just been a little too high. Angelfire is quick, easy read that may be fun for teen readers who enjoy paranormal reads with great mythology, but I wouldn't give it much more credit than that. I know this is a debut novel, and Moulton shows promise, but there is still room for improvement, hopefully in future novels.
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LibraryThing member BookPurring
My main problem: I didn't like the characters. I didn't like Ellie. I tried. I swear I did. In fact, had this book just been about Preliator Ellie, I'd probably would have rated it higher. Ellie's problems in her human life are those of a rich girl problems, as Chris, one of the characters would
Going back to her rich girl problems, and this may be a pet peeve that didn't influence my rating of this book, the name dropping is obnoxious. My Audi, my mom's Mercedes, Kate's BMW, my Badgley Mishka dress that I bought for my party and goes along with my Marc Jacobs shoes. Can teenagers really relate to this? I don't know about the US, but if this book ever gets translated and sold in other countries the answer is a big fat no. Now there's Kate, Ellie's friend whose only dialogue during the book is to offer alcohol and ask Ellie if she's dating Will. She had at least three conversations with this same topic. I liked Will, he was moody, but his whole "I'm your soldier," attitude pleased me. All men should be like that. Kidding!
Okay now that I discussed why I didn't like it, let's talk about what I did like. Moulton is very good at creating her own world, and it was this what kept me reading. The description and history of the reapers is very well done, I even wanted to to google the Grigori's (a fallen angel family) after I was done reading. The pacing of the book is very well done too, with unexpected action here and there. I also liked the idea that Will is Ellie's solider, and how she is supposed to be stronger than him. Well that's new in YA! There are hints of a romance between Ellie and Will, but they are very subtle and it is definitely not the focus of the book.
Will I read the next one in the series? My heart will not bleed if I don't.
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say. Ellie has a rocky relationship with her father, which either is poor writing or Ellie's father has been taken over by some reaper (that's my theory not a spoiler). Ellie thinks that no teenager should feel the way she feels. when her parents fight. Granted it's probably true, it just doesn't seem like what a teenager would think, it seems like what the author wants the reader to feel about Ellie. Last, she tries to be humble by saying how she understands other teenagers don't get cars on their birthdays, but since she has to deal with her parents fighting it's almost a trade off. Girl. How can you even compare the two? Also there are kids who do not get cars and still have their parents fighting. Think about that. Ellie doesn't want to put her friends in danger when she knows the reapers will attack her. So you'd think she would try to go home, prepare to fight or something along those lines, except she doesn't she goes to parties, and after parties never even trying to protect her friends while dragging Will with she can. Ellie knows there are reapers out there trying to kill, yet she thinks getting drunk is a good idea. It wasn't the underage drinking that bothered me, I'd be a hypocrite if it was, it was her poor decision making that bothered me.Going back to her rich girl problems, and this may be a pet peeve that didn't influence my rating of this book, the name dropping is obnoxious. My Audi, my mom's Mercedes, Kate's BMW, my Badgley Mishka dress that I bought for my party and goes along with my Marc Jacobs shoes. Can teenagers really relate to this? I don't know about the US, but if this book ever gets translated and sold in other countries the answer is a big fat no. Now there's Kate, Ellie's friend whose only dialogue during the book is to offer alcohol and ask Ellie if she's dating Will. She had at least three conversations with this same topic. I liked Will, he was moody, but his whole "I'm your soldier," attitude pleased me. All men should be like that. Kidding!
Okay now that I discussed why I didn't like it, let's talk about what I did like. Moulton is very good at creating her own world, and it was this what kept me reading. The description and history of the reapers is very well done, I even wanted to to google the Grigori's (a fallen angel family) after I was done reading. The pacing of the book is very well done too, with unexpected action here and there. I also liked the idea that Will is Ellie's solider, and how she is supposed to be stronger than him. Well that's new in YA! There are hints of a romance between Ellie and Will, but they are very subtle and it is definitely not the focus of the book.
Will I read the next one in the series? My heart will not bleed if I don't.
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LibraryThing member katiedoll
Angelfire is definitely one of the best YA paranormal novels that I’ve read lately. And that’s probably because it’s so unbelievably kick-ass.
Ellie is this normal girl who likes to shop and go to the movies with her friends, but then she’s a fierce heroin who can wield a sword without
And Will. *sighs* Ellie and Will are like Batman and Robin to me, only Ellie is Batman and Will is a lot more sexier than Robin ever was. But seriously, I really did love Will. He has all the appeal of a bad boy, but he’s just a huge softy at heart and his adoration for Ellie leaped off the pages.
Speaking of leaping off pages, let me tell you, the action? EPIC. This author owns writing intense fight scenes. And she’s also good with switching gears from kick-ass action of killing reapers to being all romantic and soft with ease. I went from being all riled up from a fight scene to nearly melting in my seat at the gushiness that followed.
Overall, Angelfire is a fantastic debut full of action, romance, and straight up epic kick-assery. It’s a magnificent start to a what is sure to be a magnificent series and I can’t wait for book two! Paranormal fans, this book was basically written for you. I definitely recommend!
Ellie is this normal girl who likes to shop and go to the movies with her friends, but then she’s a fierce heroin who can wield a sword without
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effort and take out some pretty monstrous reapers when she needs to. Courtney writes a very alluring mix between normal and paranormal for Ellie in this fantastic debut. She’ll fight the reapers in one scene and come home to another fight with her verbally abusive father in the next. It’s very admirable that even with the paranormal aspect, Courtney didn’t lose touch with Ellie’s human life.And Will. *sighs* Ellie and Will are like Batman and Robin to me, only Ellie is Batman and Will is a lot more sexier than Robin ever was. But seriously, I really did love Will. He has all the appeal of a bad boy, but he’s just a huge softy at heart and his adoration for Ellie leaped off the pages.
Speaking of leaping off pages, let me tell you, the action? EPIC. This author owns writing intense fight scenes. And she’s also good with switching gears from kick-ass action of killing reapers to being all romantic and soft with ease. I went from being all riled up from a fight scene to nearly melting in my seat at the gushiness that followed.
Overall, Angelfire is a fantastic debut full of action, romance, and straight up epic kick-assery. It’s a magnificent start to a what is sure to be a magnificent series and I can’t wait for book two! Paranormal fans, this book was basically written for you. I definitely recommend!
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LibraryThing member kathleen.morrow
Fantastic plot. The writing is weak in places, but the plot and characterization are worth it. Since this is the author's debut novel, I would expect the writing to improve in her future books.
LibraryThing member CloverHillReviews
The jacket on this is as you would visualize the main character in the book, a good representation of the story itself, and very eye catching.
Angelfire starts off very welcoming, and is humorously laugh-out-loud, funny in places. On a personal note, I love the fact Ellie has been given red
In places it is sad, reflective and regretful and very intense. The storyline jumps from 'normal' life to one full of action which is intensely gripping and has surprising twists along the way, as Ellie comes to terms with what she is and then delves you into action that will grip you and have you turning page after page.
I really didn't want this book to end, and the ending scene is like something out of a movie, leaving you wanting more...so hurry up Angelfire Book 2: Wings of the Wicked (2012) and Angelfire Book 3: Hymn to the Fallen (2013). These are firmly printed on my book wish list for the future.
Angelfire starts off very welcoming, and is humorously laugh-out-loud, funny in places. On a personal note, I love the fact Ellie has been given red
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hair...not many main characters are given that privilege (yep..I'm redheaded too). The chemistry between Ellie and Will is teasingly curious as Ellie struggles to accept (and remember) her past, and it has some achingly emotional scenes in it.In places it is sad, reflective and regretful and very intense. The storyline jumps from 'normal' life to one full of action which is intensely gripping and has surprising twists along the way, as Ellie comes to terms with what she is and then delves you into action that will grip you and have you turning page after page.
I really didn't want this book to end, and the ending scene is like something out of a movie, leaving you wanting more...so hurry up Angelfire Book 2: Wings of the Wicked (2012) and Angelfire Book 3: Hymn to the Fallen (2013). These are firmly printed on my book wish list for the future.
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LibraryThing member karma212
The minute I heard about Angelfire I knew it had to be moved to the top of my TBR pile and I was not disappointed. I loved every minute of it. Moulton created a world full of the fallen,reapers and even glimpses of archangels. We are introduced to the heroine Ellie, a typical high school teenager
Ellie's character was very real,unlike most YA novels where the main heroine falls head over heels in love with the male protagonist upon setting her eyes on him and eats, breathes,and sleeps every word out his mouth I am glad to say that's not how it went between Will and Ellie. When Will told Ellie that she is the Preliator and that he is her guardian she has her suspicions and tells him to get lost.I also did find it literally funny, how during the midst of her world being turned upside-inside out she still had time to care about her makeup.
Ellie has a great relationship with her mom but not so much with here dad.Honestly i'm interested to see what Moulton has in store for her father. There were slight hints and clues that there is more to him than meets the eye.
Moulton did an awesome job with the action scenes. Ellie is one kick-ass full of heart type of girl.She is powerful beyond compare to anyone including Will. Unlike other YA novels Ellie can handle herself and she does not need anyone to fight for her.
Now lets move on to the heartthrob Will. I loved him. He has been Ellie's guardian for 500 years watching her die several times since he took over the role of her guardian.He has been deeply in love with Ellie for centuries and is angry that he can never save her. He knows she will be reborn again but that's just not enough for him. Will is sexy,loyal,and intense. He has a sense of humor that we get glimpses of and he can be anti-social at times.
One thing that was left unanswered through out most of the book right up until the end was that even though we are introduced to Ellie being the Preliator no one really knows how her existence came to be, not Ellie, not Will, No one. And when I finally did find out it was so unexpected that I went from liking to loving the book.
Moulton did leave us hanging on Will and Ellie's relationship.
I am so mad that I have to wait till next year for more of Ellie and Will. The way the relationship between the two left off has me eagerly awaiting for book two of the series.
Kick-ass action scenes,strong protagonist heroine,reapers,and a very sexy love interest put together with a fast paced engaging plot made for a great read.
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with school problems,daddy issues,and boy problems,and all this before Will walks into her life where she learns that her soul is thousands of years old and she must fight and kill reapers who prey on human souls.Ellie's character was very real,unlike most YA novels where the main heroine falls head over heels in love with the male protagonist upon setting her eyes on him and eats, breathes,and sleeps every word out his mouth I am glad to say that's not how it went between Will and Ellie. When Will told Ellie that she is the Preliator and that he is her guardian she has her suspicions and tells him to get lost.I also did find it literally funny, how during the midst of her world being turned upside-inside out she still had time to care about her makeup.
Ellie has a great relationship with her mom but not so much with here dad.Honestly i'm interested to see what Moulton has in store for her father. There were slight hints and clues that there is more to him than meets the eye.
Moulton did an awesome job with the action scenes. Ellie is one kick-ass full of heart type of girl.She is powerful beyond compare to anyone including Will. Unlike other YA novels Ellie can handle herself and she does not need anyone to fight for her.
Now lets move on to the heartthrob Will. I loved him. He has been Ellie's guardian for 500 years watching her die several times since he took over the role of her guardian.He has been deeply in love with Ellie for centuries and is angry that he can never save her. He knows she will be reborn again but that's just not enough for him. Will is sexy,loyal,and intense. He has a sense of humor that we get glimpses of and he can be anti-social at times.
One thing that was left unanswered through out most of the book right up until the end was that even though we are introduced to Ellie being the Preliator no one really knows how her existence came to be, not Ellie, not Will, No one. And when I finally did find out it was so unexpected that I went from liking to loving the book.
Moulton did leave us hanging on Will and Ellie's relationship.
I am so mad that I have to wait till next year for more of Ellie and Will. The way the relationship between the two left off has me eagerly awaiting for book two of the series.
Kick-ass action scenes,strong protagonist heroine,reapers,and a very sexy love interest put together with a fast paced engaging plot made for a great read.
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LibraryThing member resugo
Well, I'm rather sad to say I didn't enjoy this book much. Especially since I read all 464 pages of it. Honestly, I had no idea it was this long when I requested it from NetGalley.
Why didn't I enjoy it? Mostly I didn't buy into the premise. I am able to suspend disbelief for post apocalypse,
There were other things--Will reminded me of a faithful little puppy dog, the way he followed Ellie around everywhere. It was too long. I wanted Ellie to care less about her high school friends (like I did) and more about fighting grim (which was the fun part). And I wanted her to remember more about her past, and a lot quicker!
I think Angelfire will appeal to a lot of readers, especially those who like fallen angel books. It's exciting and has an interesting plot. Ellie is a strong heroine, she is a warrior and there are a lot of well written fight scenes. There is some forbidden romance, which is always fun. Will is a good guy, er...guardian, even if he did remind me of a puppy.
This just isn't my kind of book. I think I need to stay away from fallen angels...
Why didn't I enjoy it? Mostly I didn't buy into the premise. I am able to suspend disbelief for post apocalypse,
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dystopian, supernatural, and paranormal, but apparently not for fallen angels. Once a fictionalized God and faith and religion get in there, I just don't buy it. It all seems rather silly. So, that kind of ruined the book for me since that was the whole point.There were other things--Will reminded me of a faithful little puppy dog, the way he followed Ellie around everywhere. It was too long. I wanted Ellie to care less about her high school friends (like I did) and more about fighting grim (which was the fun part). And I wanted her to remember more about her past, and a lot quicker!
I think Angelfire will appeal to a lot of readers, especially those who like fallen angel books. It's exciting and has an interesting plot. Ellie is a strong heroine, she is a warrior and there are a lot of well written fight scenes. There is some forbidden romance, which is always fun. Will is a good guy, er...guardian, even if he did remind me of a puppy.
This just isn't my kind of book. I think I need to stay away from fallen angels...
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LibraryThing member girlaboutbooks
Confession: I am obsessed with stories about Angels and/or Fallen Angels and I have to say, Angelfire definitely fed my appetite complete with a dessert!
Ever since I saw the book trailer of Angelfire I instantly went to Goodreads and read the story’s plot and BAM! I must read this, I thought. I
The plot is one of the main reasons why I want to read this book. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read a book about demons and demonslashers, super hot guardian and a kick-ass heroine, it’s a powerful combination!
Ellie is a ravishingly powerful heroine. She’s the perfect heroine for this sort of book. She’s independent, strong and has the spine to speak out her mind and not to mention kick the butts of her enemies herself. She’s screaming girl power! Will, on the other hand, Will, oh, Will… he had me at hello. I love his faith with Ellie, the way he cared for Ellie, I think he’s really sweet. He’s tough like Ellie; he’s fierce and gentle all at the same time. I didn't see him as a “bad boy” but he’s got a strong charm that I couldn’t quite name. He’s definitely swoon-worthy. I think their (Ellie's and Will) chemistry is really strong that will definitely have your heart racing.
Also, my favorite part of the story would be the action! Wow! This is filled with such a graphic action scenes. Courtney’s writing was absolutely wonderful and utterly compelling! It’s as if I can really see Ellie and Ragnuk kicking each other’s butts in front of me in my room.
This book is definitely one of my favorite reads this year ('nuff said!). I’m giving this a 5 of 5 stars and I highly recommend this to all those fans of books with concept of angels and demons and those who loves satisfyingly good action, you guys are surely going to love this one. Also, watch out for my interview with Courtney sometime next week!
I can’t believe I still have to wait for the next book, Wings of the Wicked, which will be released sometime next year. I cannot wait to read it!
Cover Thoughts: 5 out of 5. That cover is one of the best this year, in my opinion. It definitely oozes with Ellie's powerful characteristic and that Khopesh on her hand is enough reason to believe that she can truly kick reapers' butts!
*I received this free e-galley from publisher, HarperCollins via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
Ever since I saw the book trailer of Angelfire I instantly went to Goodreads and read the story’s plot and BAM! I must read this, I thought. I
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even WoW-ed this before just because it’s really one of my anticipated reads. And now that I've read it, I felt fulfilled in a way.The plot is one of the main reasons why I want to read this book. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read a book about demons and demonslashers, super hot guardian and a kick-ass heroine, it’s a powerful combination!
Ellie is a ravishingly powerful heroine. She’s the perfect heroine for this sort of book. She’s independent, strong and has the spine to speak out her mind and not to mention kick the butts of her enemies herself. She’s screaming girl power! Will, on the other hand, Will, oh, Will… he had me at hello. I love his faith with Ellie, the way he cared for Ellie, I think he’s really sweet. He’s tough like Ellie; he’s fierce and gentle all at the same time. I didn't see him as a “bad boy” but he’s got a strong charm that I couldn’t quite name. He’s definitely swoon-worthy. I think their (Ellie's and Will) chemistry is really strong that will definitely have your heart racing.
Also, my favorite part of the story would be the action! Wow! This is filled with such a graphic action scenes. Courtney’s writing was absolutely wonderful and utterly compelling! It’s as if I can really see Ellie and Ragnuk kicking each other’s butts in front of me in my room.
This book is definitely one of my favorite reads this year ('nuff said!). I’m giving this a 5 of 5 stars and I highly recommend this to all those fans of books with concept of angels and demons and those who loves satisfyingly good action, you guys are surely going to love this one. Also, watch out for my interview with Courtney sometime next week!
I can’t believe I still have to wait for the next book, Wings of the Wicked, which will be released sometime next year. I cannot wait to read it!
Cover Thoughts: 5 out of 5. That cover is one of the best this year, in my opinion. It definitely oozes with Ellie's powerful characteristic and that Khopesh on her hand is enough reason to believe that she can truly kick reapers' butts!
*I received this free e-galley from publisher, HarperCollins via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
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LibraryThing member meags222
Well I have to say I was disappointed by this book. There has been a lot of hype for this book and when I was given a chance to read this book through NetGalley I was pretty excited. The summary sounded great with a different take on an angel story. When I first started reading the novel I found it
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to be intriguing but the more and more I read I began to lose interest. I found that a lot of the novel is dialogue based and oftentimes I found the dialogue to be a bit boring. There was always a cookie cutter response for every question. Don't get me wrong there were some things that I liked about the novel. I found that the premise of the novel was quite good. The idea of reapers and reincarnation was an original take on angel mythology. There were also parts that made me laugh, such as the state of Ellie's poor car. The thing that bothered me, I guess, is the fact that this book has hit on so many of the same themes as other books and perhaps I was just looking for something a little different. The romance between a teenage girl and her guardian/mentor figure has been done before many times. There was also the theme of trying to fit in with both the real world and also the paranormal world that seems just a bit overdone these days. I know I may get some flack for this review as it this books seems to be garnering tonnes of positive feedback; however I have vowed to stay true to myself and give my honest opinion of the book. That being said, just because Angelfire was not my cup of tea I can see the appeal for many other readers. Why not pick up a copy and see for yourselves? Show Less
Language
Physical description
464 p.; 8.19 inches
ISBN
0062002325 / 9780062002327
Local notes
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.