Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Feral Dream (2012), Paperback, 256 pages
Description
"It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel. Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl. Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again." -- P. [4] of cover.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ahappybooker
Angelfall deposits the reader right in the middle of this formidable post apocalyptic world where there are dangers lurking everywhere, both human and other. Angels have descended and ravaged the earth and those who are left resort to any means necessary to survive. Penryn is trying to take care of
First lines:
"Ironically, since the attacks, the sunsets have been glorious. Outside our condo window, the sky flames like a bruised mango in vivid orange, reds, and purples. The clouds catch on fire with sunset colors, and I’m almost scared those of us caught below will catch on fire too. "
Awed..speechless…blown away…these are the words I would use to describe how much I enjoyed Angelfall. The writing was impeccable, I was lost in the story from the first page and it only got better as it continued. The author created a desolate world using vivid imagery and fascinating characters. I was as intrigued with some of the secondary characters as I was with Penryn and Raffe. For example, Penryn’s mother was an obvious schizophrenic who would seem to turn up unexpectedly throughout the book with strange and sometimes cryptic words and warnings for Penryn who wasn’t sure if her mother knew something of if she was simply insane. The angels and the street thugs were effectively terrifying, really setting the tone for the dangerous world they were a part of.
I was surprised that, although these were the angels and archangels of the apocalypse, Angelfall didn’t stray too deeply into religion. It was interesting they way the author weaved bits and pieces of the angels background into the story, leaving them somewhat mysterious but giving enough of an explanation to satisfy, for now. I definitely want to understand more about them in the sequel.
The growing relationship, not necessarily romance, between Raffe and Penryn was one of the highlights of the story for me. There was the slow development of mutual respect for one another which then progressed into trust and loyalty as they helped each other through some pretty scary situations. There was also a physical attraction that was always there but didn’t overshadow the more “real” things they started to feel for one another. I don’t see that slow, realistic progression often in fiction but I liked it. And Raffe….wow….I can’t wait to read more of HIM!!! His courage, strength, and loyalty was certainly swoon worthy for me.
The angels were crazy scary. At one point Penryn sees a sign that says “Who will protect us from the guardians” and I think that pretty much sums it up. They view humans as talking monkeys and are ruthless in taking what they want. These are not the pretty creatures we see on Christmas cards. Raffe really puts it in perspective when he tells Penryn:
"He shrugs in the dim light. “Angels are violent creatures.”
“So I noticed. I used to think they were all sweet and kind.”
“Why would you think that? Even in your Bible, we’re harbingers of doom, willing and able to destroy entire cities. Just because we sometimes warned one or two of you beforehand doesn’t make us altruistic.”
Ultimately, this is one of the best, if not the best, book I have read in 2011. I can’t recommend it enough. I can’t believe this was only $2.99!!! Angelfall is as a fast paced exciting page turner that will keep you up late into the night reading. I devoured this in just one day, staying up until 4 in the morning to finish it! This dark and gritty and beautifully written novel is a must read for fans of fantasy, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, angels, or anyone who just enjoy an exciting and extremely well written story.
(This book is available for $2.99 as a LendMe Nook book at Barnes and Noble. You can add me as a Nook Friend at ahappybooker at gmail dot com. If you happen to read it, please write a review so we can get the word out about this amazing book!!)
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her small family since her father skipped out on them. She has to worry about a mother who is often lost in schizophrenic delusions as well as look out for her crippled and wheelchair bound little sister. Penryn is the one responsible for finding food and shelter as they try to constantly stay one step ahead of the dangerous street gangs and the bloodthirsty angels that can swoop down from above without warning. These angels have been in a really bad mood since their leader, Gabriel, was gunned down and they have been wreaking havoc, destroying so much of the world that the landscape has become unrecognizable and the few survivors struggle to endure day to day. It all seems rather hopeless and Penryn’s only motivation to continue on is the little sister who couldn’t survive without her. When Penryn impulsively saves an angel from being torn apart by his own kind, the other angels retaliate by flying off with her helpless little sister. Now Penryn will risk anything to get her back, including joining forces with one of the enemy. First lines:
"Ironically, since the attacks, the sunsets have been glorious. Outside our condo window, the sky flames like a bruised mango in vivid orange, reds, and purples. The clouds catch on fire with sunset colors, and I’m almost scared those of us caught below will catch on fire too. "
Awed..speechless…blown away…these are the words I would use to describe how much I enjoyed Angelfall. The writing was impeccable, I was lost in the story from the first page and it only got better as it continued. The author created a desolate world using vivid imagery and fascinating characters. I was as intrigued with some of the secondary characters as I was with Penryn and Raffe. For example, Penryn’s mother was an obvious schizophrenic who would seem to turn up unexpectedly throughout the book with strange and sometimes cryptic words and warnings for Penryn who wasn’t sure if her mother knew something of if she was simply insane. The angels and the street thugs were effectively terrifying, really setting the tone for the dangerous world they were a part of.
I was surprised that, although these were the angels and archangels of the apocalypse, Angelfall didn’t stray too deeply into religion. It was interesting they way the author weaved bits and pieces of the angels background into the story, leaving them somewhat mysterious but giving enough of an explanation to satisfy, for now. I definitely want to understand more about them in the sequel.
The growing relationship, not necessarily romance, between Raffe and Penryn was one of the highlights of the story for me. There was the slow development of mutual respect for one another which then progressed into trust and loyalty as they helped each other through some pretty scary situations. There was also a physical attraction that was always there but didn’t overshadow the more “real” things they started to feel for one another. I don’t see that slow, realistic progression often in fiction but I liked it. And Raffe….wow….I can’t wait to read more of HIM!!! His courage, strength, and loyalty was certainly swoon worthy for me.
The angels were crazy scary. At one point Penryn sees a sign that says “Who will protect us from the guardians” and I think that pretty much sums it up. They view humans as talking monkeys and are ruthless in taking what they want. These are not the pretty creatures we see on Christmas cards. Raffe really puts it in perspective when he tells Penryn:
"He shrugs in the dim light. “Angels are violent creatures.”
“So I noticed. I used to think they were all sweet and kind.”
“Why would you think that? Even in your Bible, we’re harbingers of doom, willing and able to destroy entire cities. Just because we sometimes warned one or two of you beforehand doesn’t make us altruistic.”
Ultimately, this is one of the best, if not the best, book I have read in 2011. I can’t recommend it enough. I can’t believe this was only $2.99!!! Angelfall is as a fast paced exciting page turner that will keep you up late into the night reading. I devoured this in just one day, staying up until 4 in the morning to finish it! This dark and gritty and beautifully written novel is a must read for fans of fantasy, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, angels, or anyone who just enjoy an exciting and extremely well written story.
(This book is available for $2.99 as a LendMe Nook book at Barnes and Noble. You can add me as a Nook Friend at ahappybooker at gmail dot com. If you happen to read it, please write a review so we can get the word out about this amazing book!!)
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LibraryThing member bethorne
** Edited to add: I was checking through my book lists to rec books for friends and realized that THIS BOOK was one of the only ones that consistently gets 4.5 or 5 star ratings from EVERYONE. So obviously, everyone needs to be reading it. Now. Thanks!**
This was one of the last books I read of
Angelfall was simply an engrossing story. The narrator, Penryn, is wise and cautious and loyal and crafty but not without integrity. I loved that she didn't have the personality of a much older woman (sometimes when teenagers in books have this ZOMG ZANY WIT, I'm hyper aware that they are the voice of the author instead of the author's adolescent character); instead Penryn recognizes when wit would be a great asset, but only responds with, "whatever." LOOK! A real girl. But one that is not a hopeless, selfish teenager, but one who has dealt with a severely mentally ill mother, an absent father and a crippled younger sister. She's been the role of protector even before the angel apocalypse began, so she's prepared, kickass, strong and smart.
Her bond with her erstwhile and reluctant angel companion, Raffe, is prickly but strong and real. They are using one another and yet you get the sense of honest respect. Despite Raffe's otherworldly beauty, there is ZERO flowery romantic thinking because Penryn stays aware that they are enemies. And Raffe doesn't let her forget it either.
And MY GOD the pacing of this book. The last dozen chapters or so are heart poundingly perfect. There were no info dumps despite there being a large amount of angel lore that Penryn isn't privy to. SHE sees and deduces. She HEARS and makes choices. There could have been several places were Raffe just gives her the business about his world, but he never bothers. I loved it.
This was one of the last books I read of
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2011, and within the first few chapters it creeped into my top five of the year. Since I reread it the first week of 2012, it may end up in THAT top five list as well. Angelfall was simply an engrossing story. The narrator, Penryn, is wise and cautious and loyal and crafty but not without integrity. I loved that she didn't have the personality of a much older woman (sometimes when teenagers in books have this ZOMG ZANY WIT, I'm hyper aware that they are the voice of the author instead of the author's adolescent character); instead Penryn recognizes when wit would be a great asset, but only responds with, "whatever." LOOK! A real girl. But one that is not a hopeless, selfish teenager, but one who has dealt with a severely mentally ill mother, an absent father and a crippled younger sister. She's been the role of protector even before the angel apocalypse began, so she's prepared, kickass, strong and smart.
Her bond with her erstwhile and reluctant angel companion, Raffe, is prickly but strong and real. They are using one another and yet you get the sense of honest respect. Despite Raffe's otherworldly beauty, there is ZERO flowery romantic thinking because Penryn stays aware that they are enemies. And Raffe doesn't let her forget it either.
And MY GOD the pacing of this book. The last dozen chapters or so are heart poundingly perfect. There were no info dumps despite there being a large amount of angel lore that Penryn isn't privy to. SHE sees and deduces. She HEARS and makes choices. There could have been several places were Raffe just gives her the business about his world, but he never bothers. I loved it.
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LibraryThing member JessicaLiegel
One of my favorite books so far this year! Soooo good! It was fast-paced and a very quick read because I couldn't put it down. LOVED the characters. The ending was awesome. I can't wait for the next!
LibraryThing member Irisheyz77
***As Originally posted on my blog tickettoanywhere(dot)net***
When I first heard about Angelfall by Susan Ee I was very skeptical of it. First it had angels and I am not a huge fan of that growing genre and second it was a self-published book....and we've all witness the horrors that can occur with
This is a purchase that I don't regret as I really enjoyed Angelfall. I loved the world building of this post-apocalyptic world and I loved that we had a history of how it all came to be. We weren't just tossed into the ruins of America and told to just accept it without question of how society crumbled. I also enjoyed how angels weren't given a white washing and made into benevolent creatures. I liked how they were cold and hard and scary. Anyone who has every read the bible knows the power of angels and it was a bit terrifying to see it on the page.
Penryn's voice was also very strong and realistic. She didn't always make the wisest decisions but she always followed her heart. There were several times when she walked into danger knowing that she could have turned a blind eye and been safe. But she didn't. She took risks and dealt with the consequences of her actions. Learning a bit more about herself in the process. I also enjoyed her interactions with Raff, the angel she rescues and makes a pact with to try and save her sister. They had a funny banter and I enjoyed seeing them learn to cope with the other and learn that the other race may not be as bad as initially thought.
The problem that I had with the book was that just as the action really started to heat up, the story ended. And not just any ending but an ending with a cliff hanger. One that forces the reader to go and read the next book if they want to know what happens. I am filled with series fatigue and while I want to know what happens next a part of me is a little resentful that the only way to know is to keep reading.
Overall though, Angelfall is a solid addition to the dystopian craze and it might even be better than some of the other more popular dystopian reads out there. Its a solid world with a gripping plot line that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Penryn and Raff journey to across California. Its a book that will make your heart race and then break it a little over the course of Penryn's journey. Its a book where the choices aren't always easy but they are ones that need to be made. And for all of my series fatigue I really do hope that book 2 is available soon so that I can devour that one as quickly as I devoured Angelfall.
***As Originally posted on my blog tickettoanywhere(dot)net***
When I first heard about Angelfall by Susan Ee I was very skeptical of it. First it had angels and I am not a huge fan of that growing genre and second it was a self-published book....and we've all witness the horrors that can occur with
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self-published authors. But two bloggers, Po(sey) Sessions and YA Librarian Tales, whose opinions really matter to me kept insisting that this was one book that I really had to try. Yes, it was about Angels but it was about the scary biblical ones of old and it was more of a dystopia than not. And yes, it was self-published but it didn't read like one. And since it was only 99 cents on BN.com I crumbled under their praise and purchased this book. This is a purchase that I don't regret as I really enjoyed Angelfall. I loved the world building of this post-apocalyptic world and I loved that we had a history of how it all came to be. We weren't just tossed into the ruins of America and told to just accept it without question of how society crumbled. I also enjoyed how angels weren't given a white washing and made into benevolent creatures. I liked how they were cold and hard and scary. Anyone who has every read the bible knows the power of angels and it was a bit terrifying to see it on the page.
Penryn's voice was also very strong and realistic. She didn't always make the wisest decisions but she always followed her heart. There were several times when she walked into danger knowing that she could have turned a blind eye and been safe. But she didn't. She took risks and dealt with the consequences of her actions. Learning a bit more about herself in the process. I also enjoyed her interactions with Raff, the angel she rescues and makes a pact with to try and save her sister. They had a funny banter and I enjoyed seeing them learn to cope with the other and learn that the other race may not be as bad as initially thought.
The problem that I had with the book was that just as the action really started to heat up, the story ended. And not just any ending but an ending with a cliff hanger. One that forces the reader to go and read the next book if they want to know what happens. I am filled with series fatigue and while I want to know what happens next a part of me is a little resentful that the only way to know is to keep reading.
Overall though, Angelfall is a solid addition to the dystopian craze and it might even be better than some of the other more popular dystopian reads out there. Its a solid world with a gripping plot line that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Penryn and Raff journey to across California. Its a book that will make your heart race and then break it a little over the course of Penryn's journey. Its a book where the choices aren't always easy but they are ones that need to be made. And for all of my series fatigue I really do hope that book 2 is available soon so that I can devour that one as quickly as I devoured Angelfall.
***As Originally posted on my blog tickettoanywhere(dot)net***
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LibraryThing member DijaK
You know when you've been underwater for a couple minutes and come up for air and take the longest breath ever, and it feels a little bit like Heaven? That's what reading Angelfall is like. I always find it extremely hard to explain why something worked for me. It's much easier to explain why
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something should be thrown in the trash. Still, Angelfall worked brilliantly. I spent all of New Year's Eve reading this book, and it took me 4 hours to fall asleep after that last chapter. As with nearly all the books I read, my rating is based mostly on the characters. Raffe and Penryn are both extremely unusual and thoroughly wonderful characters. I love how their behavior is consistent with their personality, a rarity in most YA's.World-building is a crucial part of dystopian novels, and Susan Ee excels in this regard. Penryn's world is brutal, harsh, and raw, where angels are at the top of the ladder and humans at the bottom. Nonetheless, this novel is still far from depressing. Ee has a very dark and dry sense of humor and it shows in unexpected ways throughout the story. The only reason for the 3.5-4 stars is that I couldn't really bring myself to fall in love with this book. I loved it far more than I have most novels, but it lacked that "obsessed with" factor. That aside, Angelfall is truly a fantastic novel well-deserving of all the hype. The long wait till the next book is certainly going to be an excruciating one after that cliffhanger ending! Show Less
LibraryThing member squirrelsohno
Like many reviewers, I have had some bad experiences with self-published novels. Bad editing, little or no plot, plot too similar to something already published. When I heard about Susan Ee’s ANGELFALL, the first in a projected five book series (and only 99 cents), I was blown away by the amazing
ANGELFALL is the first book in the Penryn & The End of Days series, focusing on a teenage girl named Penryn and her mother and sister six weeks after the apocalypse – angels descending from Heaven to destroy the Earth. When she saves an angel from death as his wings are cut off, she also loses her sister in the process, and is forced to coerce the angel into helping her find her sister. The story is dark, fast-paced, and moving at times. But above all, this is a story about a girl’s desperation and evolution as a person. From the death and ashes of the world she knows, she is strong, kick butt, and motivated.
Penryn’s skills as a survivalist, martial artist, and self-defense almost-expert are well described and founded. Her mother’s craziness was also grounded in fact, making the story even more hard-hitting. The characters were all well-developed, fleshed out, and evolved as the story progressed, especially with the angel saved by Penryn – the mysterious Raffe. Although I didn’t connect with him fully (the first was completely in first person from Penryn’s POV), I really did enjoy Raffe. He was brash and snarky, but he was also strong and determined to get back what he thought was rightfully his. The connection between Raffe and Penryn cycles from a partnership to contention and back again wonderfully, creating great tension.
Okay, can I just get to the squees and flails now? Just trust me when I say that this book is fabulous. From the characters to the amazing plot, it is just good. In fact, it’s so good that it made me overlook some shaky writing and editing issues and focus solely on how amazing the plot is. Ee’s debut is a wild ride full of creativity, impressive action, and drama that is more than likely going to go down as my favorite book published in 2011. Yes, it was a self-published effort, but this book goes far and beyond the efforts of many (MANY) traditionally published books from the big six publishers.
This book is a heart pounding thrill ride from beginning to end, and I cannot help but highly recommend it to any lover of young adult fiction – and even adults who enjoy action, post-apocalyptic themes, and darker fiction. While not flashy, ANGELFALL is a spectacular book that is definitely one you MUST read.
VERDICT: Although a darker book for older teens, ANGELFALL is a spectacular tour de force in young adult fiction, mixing post-apocalyptic and paranormal themes effortlessly. Spectacular!
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reviews this book was getting – even from some very picky readers. After that much hype, I knew I had to read it, especially since it combines two of my favorite things – evil angels and a post-apocalyptic wasteland. I mean, evil angels, people. That is enough to get me to read just about anything.ANGELFALL is the first book in the Penryn & The End of Days series, focusing on a teenage girl named Penryn and her mother and sister six weeks after the apocalypse – angels descending from Heaven to destroy the Earth. When she saves an angel from death as his wings are cut off, she also loses her sister in the process, and is forced to coerce the angel into helping her find her sister. The story is dark, fast-paced, and moving at times. But above all, this is a story about a girl’s desperation and evolution as a person. From the death and ashes of the world she knows, she is strong, kick butt, and motivated.
Penryn’s skills as a survivalist, martial artist, and self-defense almost-expert are well described and founded. Her mother’s craziness was also grounded in fact, making the story even more hard-hitting. The characters were all well-developed, fleshed out, and evolved as the story progressed, especially with the angel saved by Penryn – the mysterious Raffe. Although I didn’t connect with him fully (the first was completely in first person from Penryn’s POV), I really did enjoy Raffe. He was brash and snarky, but he was also strong and determined to get back what he thought was rightfully his. The connection between Raffe and Penryn cycles from a partnership to contention and back again wonderfully, creating great tension.
Okay, can I just get to the squees and flails now? Just trust me when I say that this book is fabulous. From the characters to the amazing plot, it is just good. In fact, it’s so good that it made me overlook some shaky writing and editing issues and focus solely on how amazing the plot is. Ee’s debut is a wild ride full of creativity, impressive action, and drama that is more than likely going to go down as my favorite book published in 2011. Yes, it was a self-published effort, but this book goes far and beyond the efforts of many (MANY) traditionally published books from the big six publishers.
This book is a heart pounding thrill ride from beginning to end, and I cannot help but highly recommend it to any lover of young adult fiction – and even adults who enjoy action, post-apocalyptic themes, and darker fiction. While not flashy, ANGELFALL is a spectacular book that is definitely one you MUST read.
VERDICT: Although a darker book for older teens, ANGELFALL is a spectacular tour de force in young adult fiction, mixing post-apocalyptic and paranormal themes effortlessly. Spectacular!
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LibraryThing member strongpieces
Angelfall has been getting tons of good reviews as Goodreads users discovered in the last few months, and for good reason.
It's a post-apocalyptic, survival of the fittest, angels are killing everyone paranormal story, something darker than most paranormal romances flooding the market these days.
This seriously has everything going for it, and while we dive straight into the action from the start, Penryn's narrative is the emotional core of the book. She's smart, she does what she needs to, but at the same time, she's still a young girl in a world where the freaking apocalypse happened.
And then they get to San Francisco and the last third of the novel turns into something bizarre. Delightful, intriguing, interesting, unique, horrifying...but bizarre all the same. I can't say more at the risk of spoiling the entire end of it, but take my word for it. This is not your typical paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel, and it's a breath of fresh air (well, for the most part, I'm not sure post-apocalyptic air is good for you...) in a crowded genre.
It's a post-apocalyptic, survival of the fittest, angels are killing everyone paranormal story, something darker than most paranormal romances flooding the market these days.
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Penryn is a great heroine, with skills that are actually explained as she does her best to fight her way to finding her little sister, Paige, who was taken by angels for nefarious purposes. Along the way, she rescues Raffe, an angel whose wings are cut off in a battle, and she saves him from near death because he's her only chance of getting Paige back.This seriously has everything going for it, and while we dive straight into the action from the start, Penryn's narrative is the emotional core of the book. She's smart, she does what she needs to, but at the same time, she's still a young girl in a world where the freaking apocalypse happened.
And then they get to San Francisco and the last third of the novel turns into something bizarre. Delightful, intriguing, interesting, unique, horrifying...but bizarre all the same. I can't say more at the risk of spoiling the entire end of it, but take my word for it. This is not your typical paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel, and it's a breath of fresh air (well, for the most part, I'm not sure post-apocalyptic air is good for you...) in a crowded genre.
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LibraryThing member HarkiQuinn
That's right, my first 5-star rating of 2012. AND IT FRICKIN DESERVED IT.
I apologize. Okay I apologize. Initially coming into the book blogging world I had taken a firm stance against reviewing self-published novels and I stood by that until I read this book. Everyone who has a "I don't accept
Penryn Young and her family stumbles across a battle of five angels against one. She watches as one of the angels viciously slash the one angel's wings off and leave him for dead. When the angels turn their sights on Penryn and kidnap Paige, Penryn's wheelchair bound sister, Penryn forms a temporary alliance with the wingless angel left for dead. He will help her find her little sister while they try to find someway to reattach his broken wings to his body. They encounter many interesting characters and Penryn finds herself slowly falling for her enemy.
This plot is so complex and beautiful it is impossible to put into words. Susan Ee's FAQ section explains her attraction to this novel; of angels who were meant to seek and destroy instead of save humanity. What makes this book so beautiful is humanity's desperation to survive and how two people from opposite sides of the battle field can start to feel more than disdain for the other. Everything is perfectly paced with perfectly placed drama and danger that all comes nicely together in the last chapters. I must say that I did not expect the sci-fi bit of it and made me raise an eyebrow as I tried to imagine the creatures that are introduced halfway through the novel.
The characters were remarkable. Penryn is a strong willed girl with a lot of bite to her. She has only one mission in the World After, protect her innocent sister and keep her schizophrenic mother out of trouble. I loved the idea of her insane mother who heard voices, thought demons were after her and had a love for rotten eggs. While her mental state is nothing to laugh at, her mother was a usually the source of comic relief with her well timed appearances. The angel Raffe is just to die for. He has definitely been added to my (really short) list of book boyfriends. He's got the whole tragic hero look with a good helping of sass and kick-assery. The interactions between Raffe and Penryn tugged at my heart and I kept hoping with every page that there would be some breakthrough in their slowly progressing love story.
When I first approached this book, I was afraid that the writing style would not be up to par, it was. Penryn's voice is strong with an incredible will to survive in a desolate America. The banters were cute with well timed quips. One thing that I adored about the Penryn's voice was her descriptions. When she witnesses Raffe having a group of angels attack him, she picks one feature about each of the angels to refer to them as (ie: Raffe being referred to as "Snow" to reflect his snow-like wings). She does that a few times throughout the novel which I thought made scenes more interesting and avoided a lot confusion.
I could really go on and on about this book but that would take forever and I simply do not have to time. If you aren't convinced yet that you need to read this book, it's only 99 cents.
Susan Ee storms the YA genre with her complex and well researched plot, charming characters and witty dialogue. This is a novel for any dystopia fan who does not mind a bit of sci-fi.
I apologize. Okay I apologize. Initially coming into the book blogging world I had taken a firm stance against reviewing self-published novels and I stood by that until I read this book. Everyone who has a "I don't accept
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self-published novels" attitude needs to to stop thinking, go to either amazon or BN and buy this mother fucking book. Penryn Young and her family stumbles across a battle of five angels against one. She watches as one of the angels viciously slash the one angel's wings off and leave him for dead. When the angels turn their sights on Penryn and kidnap Paige, Penryn's wheelchair bound sister, Penryn forms a temporary alliance with the wingless angel left for dead. He will help her find her little sister while they try to find someway to reattach his broken wings to his body. They encounter many interesting characters and Penryn finds herself slowly falling for her enemy.
This plot is so complex and beautiful it is impossible to put into words. Susan Ee's FAQ section explains her attraction to this novel; of angels who were meant to seek and destroy instead of save humanity. What makes this book so beautiful is humanity's desperation to survive and how two people from opposite sides of the battle field can start to feel more than disdain for the other. Everything is perfectly paced with perfectly placed drama and danger that all comes nicely together in the last chapters. I must say that I did not expect the sci-fi bit of it and made me raise an eyebrow as I tried to imagine the creatures that are introduced halfway through the novel.
The characters were remarkable. Penryn is a strong willed girl with a lot of bite to her. She has only one mission in the World After, protect her innocent sister and keep her schizophrenic mother out of trouble. I loved the idea of her insane mother who heard voices, thought demons were after her and had a love for rotten eggs. While her mental state is nothing to laugh at, her mother was a usually the source of comic relief with her well timed appearances. The angel Raffe is just to die for. He has definitely been added to my (really short) list of book boyfriends. He's got the whole tragic hero look with a good helping of sass and kick-assery. The interactions between Raffe and Penryn tugged at my heart and I kept hoping with every page that there would be some breakthrough in their slowly progressing love story.
When I first approached this book, I was afraid that the writing style would not be up to par, it was. Penryn's voice is strong with an incredible will to survive in a desolate America. The banters were cute with well timed quips. One thing that I adored about the Penryn's voice was her descriptions. When she witnesses Raffe having a group of angels attack him, she picks one feature about each of the angels to refer to them as (ie: Raffe being referred to as "Snow" to reflect his snow-like wings). She does that a few times throughout the novel which I thought made scenes more interesting and avoided a lot confusion.
I could really go on and on about this book but that would take forever and I simply do not have to time. If you aren't convinced yet that you need to read this book, it's only 99 cents.
Susan Ee storms the YA genre with her complex and well researched plot, charming characters and witty dialogue. This is a novel for any dystopia fan who does not mind a bit of sci-fi.
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LibraryThing member MargK
Back sometime in July, a good friend of mine brought Angelfall to my attention. Still flying high like a kite off of her recent book crack consumption, she overenthusiastically exclaimed, "Read it. Read it. READ. IT. NOW!!" I responded, "Chillax, dude. I'll take your book pimpin' suggestion under
Fast forward six months, and I suddenly started seeing 5-star reviews of Angelfall popping up left & right on multiple book blogs as well as on Goodreads. Now, normally lots of hype tends to make me extremely apprehensive, and I've definitely never been one to call shotgun on any kind of bandwagon. Come to think of it, I'm more likely to pelt a bandwagon with rotten eggs & multilingual profanities than ride any part of it. However, after seeing the book praised by several bloggers/reviewers whose opinions I value and tend to agree with, I felt compelled to finally give it a chance.
As it turns out, I didn't quite love Angelfall as much as others did, but I was (for the most part) entertained from start to finish. I think what I enjoyed the most about this book was the dark grittiness of the storytelling as well as the fast, grab-a-hold-of-you-and-never-let-go pace of the plot. Other things I really liked included the vivid descriptions, the often bloody action, and some of the creative, fascinatingly gruesome ideas (especially the Frankenstein monster-like cannibalistic children and the scorpion-tailed deformed angelic creatures that paralyzed & sucked their prey dry).
I was also quite fond of Penryn, the heroine, who I found to be fairly well-rounded & developed. In fact, she had many different & likable aspects to her character & personality. She was determined, resilient, brave, smart, loyal, and fiercely protective of the people she cared about. Furthermore, the girl knew how to kick ass and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. And despite her multiple displays of badassery, Penryn still possessed a vulnerable side, experienced some insecurities, and struggled with certain moral/ethical decisions, which helped make her seem more real and easy to relate to.
Unfortunately there were a few things that really irked me about Angelfall. First of all, as another reviewer already pointed out, I had a lot of difficulty accepting the extreme degree of deterioration & chaos that both the physical & social environment was in after only six weeks from the initial angel attack. That's a really short amount of time to successfully obliterate multiple military & law enforcement entities, to kill off a major portion of the world's population, and to have survivors scavenge for the tiniest scraps of food while others become crazed & feral (hunting & mutilating each other). Hence, the fascinating horror of it all just didn't feel organic; it felt contrived & exaggerated for the mere purpose of shock value.
Secondly, I hated...no, I LOATHED the abso-frakkin-lutely ridiculous angel nightclub. With all this previous talk of infiltrating the supposedly super dangerous & secret angel aerie, I had expected Penryn's Mission Little Sister Rescue to be more complicated, exciting, and badass than simply dressing up in a skanky barely-there outfit and flirting her way into A Blast From The Past themed costume party. It was silly and made no sense whatsoever.
Lastly, I can't say that I was a big fan of Raffe. The dude was supposed to be a hardcore divine warrior of Heaven, but he came off to me as an emo teen boy with a devil may care attitude and a chip on his shoulder, trying way too hard to appear "cool" & intimidating. Most of his lines were soooo cheesy that they made me cringe while simultaneously rolling my eyes so hard I gave myself a headache. Additionally, he seemed two-dimensional and kinda one-note for almost the entire book.
And quite honestly, I never fully bought into Raffe's romance with Penryn. There was just something about it that didn't click for me. I suppose it's because the chemistry between them felt forced, and I didn't quite understand Penryn's ability to care so quickly & deeply for someone she's not even sure she can trust—someone who not only helped attack & destroy her world, but who didn't seem remorseful or compassionate about it at all AND who referred to humans as monkeys.
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advisement." And I did, but truth be told, the synopsis only partially intrigued me, and I already had my sights set on several major releases of the Summer & upcoming Fall. Plus, I had given a few self-published books a try in the past and none of them did anything for me. Consequently, I decided to pass on my friend's recommendation and instead moved onto other books.Fast forward six months, and I suddenly started seeing 5-star reviews of Angelfall popping up left & right on multiple book blogs as well as on Goodreads. Now, normally lots of hype tends to make me extremely apprehensive, and I've definitely never been one to call shotgun on any kind of bandwagon. Come to think of it, I'm more likely to pelt a bandwagon with rotten eggs & multilingual profanities than ride any part of it. However, after seeing the book praised by several bloggers/reviewers whose opinions I value and tend to agree with, I felt compelled to finally give it a chance.
As it turns out, I didn't quite love Angelfall as much as others did, but I was (for the most part) entertained from start to finish. I think what I enjoyed the most about this book was the dark grittiness of the storytelling as well as the fast, grab-a-hold-of-you-and-never-let-go pace of the plot. Other things I really liked included the vivid descriptions, the often bloody action, and some of the creative, fascinatingly gruesome ideas (especially the Frankenstein monster-like cannibalistic children and the scorpion-tailed deformed angelic creatures that paralyzed & sucked their prey dry).
I was also quite fond of Penryn, the heroine, who I found to be fairly well-rounded & developed. In fact, she had many different & likable aspects to her character & personality. She was determined, resilient, brave, smart, loyal, and fiercely protective of the people she cared about. Furthermore, the girl knew how to kick ass and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. And despite her multiple displays of badassery, Penryn still possessed a vulnerable side, experienced some insecurities, and struggled with certain moral/ethical decisions, which helped make her seem more real and easy to relate to.
Unfortunately there were a few things that really irked me about Angelfall. First of all, as another reviewer already pointed out, I had a lot of difficulty accepting the extreme degree of deterioration & chaos that both the physical & social environment was in after only six weeks from the initial angel attack. That's a really short amount of time to successfully obliterate multiple military & law enforcement entities, to kill off a major portion of the world's population, and to have survivors scavenge for the tiniest scraps of food while others become crazed & feral (hunting & mutilating each other). Hence, the fascinating horror of it all just didn't feel organic; it felt contrived & exaggerated for the mere purpose of shock value.
Secondly, I hated...no, I LOATHED the abso-frakkin-lutely ridiculous angel nightclub. With all this previous talk of infiltrating the supposedly super dangerous & secret angel aerie, I had expected Penryn's Mission Little Sister Rescue to be more complicated, exciting, and badass than simply dressing up in a skanky barely-there outfit and flirting her way into A Blast From The Past themed costume party. It was silly and made no sense whatsoever.
Lastly, I can't say that I was a big fan of Raffe. The dude was supposed to be a hardcore divine warrior of Heaven, but he came off to me as an emo teen boy with a devil may care attitude and a chip on his shoulder, trying way too hard to appear "cool" & intimidating. Most of his lines were soooo cheesy that they made me cringe while simultaneously rolling my eyes so hard I gave myself a headache. Additionally, he seemed two-dimensional and kinda one-note for almost the entire book.
And quite honestly, I never fully bought into Raffe's romance with Penryn. There was just something about it that didn't click for me. I suppose it's because the chemistry between them felt forced, and I didn't quite understand Penryn's ability to care so quickly & deeply for someone she's not even sure she can trust—someone who not only helped attack & destroy her world, but who didn't seem remorseful or compassionate about it at all AND who referred to humans as monkeys.
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
What happen when I fall in love with a book? I can't stop thinking about it. I want to tell everyone about this amazing book! And most of all, I want to read it over and over again! Need I say more. This books rocked!
I love what Ms. Ee created here. She gave the reader one heck of a plot. The plot
You know what I love the most about this book? The lovers dance of dancing around each other but so many other things are going around that you can't say nothing. I wanted to badly just to say," KISS HER! KISS HER!" It was so much fun to read about two characters from two different side watching them fall in love. It always amazes me how tragic accident can bring two people together. To watch them fight, bicker, laugh and joke, brought many smiles on my face.
This book makes me smile so large! Even now as I write this review my heart is pounding with excitement. Let me tell you that this is not another fallen angel book. It is nothing like that. Believe when I say this book will take your breath away!
*cursing*
I love what Ms. Ee created here. She gave the reader one heck of a plot. The plot
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is WOW!!. I mean so great that I can't even begin to express my emotions. From the very first page you fall into a world that has been ravaged, people trying to survive an apocalypse nobody saw coming. The emotions that each characters express are so strong and unique. I adored that each character stood out on their own. It was like they each had their own voice and screaming to be heard!You know what I love the most about this book? The lovers dance of dancing around each other but so many other things are going around that you can't say nothing. I wanted to badly just to say," KISS HER! KISS HER!" It was so much fun to read about two characters from two different side watching them fall in love. It always amazes me how tragic accident can bring two people together. To watch them fight, bicker, laugh and joke, brought many smiles on my face.
This book makes me smile so large! Even now as I write this review my heart is pounding with excitement. Let me tell you that this is not another fallen angel book. It is nothing like that. Believe when I say this book will take your breath away!
*cursing*
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LibraryThing member thenightbookmobile
So many rave reviews have been posted for this book in the past few days, that I'm probably just preaching to the choir at this point, but I enjoyed this book so much that I want to promote it so others can find it too. So here I am, adding to the praise!
I devoured this book so quickly, I almost
Angelfall starts off and reminds me a lot of both The Hunger Games and Daughter of Smoke and Bone right away. The main character is fiercely independent and tough when it comes to making hard decisions, very reminiscent of Katniss, and the setting is dark and gritty and easy to imagine. The author crafts her words in a way that allow you to fully envision the world, which I've found is not something every author does for me. Penryn also has a mother and sister that she is responsible for, but their relationships are deeply twisted. Despite the comparisons to the aforementioned books, this book is a whole other animal entirely. I don't claim to know the publishing world, but I almost wonder if one reason this book is so good is because the author self-published the novel, and didn't have anyone she had to please. There are some things in this book so horrific that it's shocking, and there are some uses of language by male soldiers that you wouldn't expect to see in a YA novel, but they work. They feel real in this world that is supposed to be the end of days. Some post-apocalyptic novels don't manage to capture the feeling that the world has gone completely mad, they don't want to make things too gritty and dark for their heroine even if that is what would be realistic, but in this book, Susan Ee accomplishes just that. Cannibals, anyone?
The romance in this book is A+. While at times it does stray into the cliche of Penryn obsessing over the angel's beauty in her private thoughts, it never really became annoying, and she stayed focused on the task at hand. The romance in this book takes a backseat to the story, as it should in a world where so many things are happening, and as a result the end feels all the more heart-wrenching and real. You could actually feel this love develop, see how it might have become what it is, and you don't feel manipulated. This is important.
I've never been a fan of books centered around angels, but it seems after 2011, I can no longer say that is so. I enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Unearthly and now Angelfall immensely. I even think the angels in Angelfall were the most interesting. They are evil (but not all) and their wings and skin are unnatural colors. The author also takes the mythology and sticks close to it but spins it into something truly exciting. I don't know much about religion, but after the end of the book, I looked up the things referenced here and appreciated the book even more when I was through.
Self-published? Yes. I've never really read self-published books. I simply do not have the time to sift through for the hidden gems, when I've got so many other books on my shelves already, but this novel stands as proof that these gems are out there, and they need to be noticed. This was truly one of my favorite novels of the year and I could easily see it as a movie. It is better than several of the other hyped dystopian novels I've read and far more deserving of recognition. I truly hope the author receives it.
Recommendation: Dystopia lovers, Fantasy lovers, Angel lovers, Mythology lovers, Instalove haters, seekers of badass protagonists.
I devoured this book so quickly, I almost
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wonder if I'm capable of writing a detailed review about it. I walked away from it in a sleepy and satisfied daze, though shocked at the ending. I love a book that is unpredictable, and this book was certainly that. If you think you know exactly what is going to happen in the end, you're probably wrong.Angelfall starts off and reminds me a lot of both The Hunger Games and Daughter of Smoke and Bone right away. The main character is fiercely independent and tough when it comes to making hard decisions, very reminiscent of Katniss, and the setting is dark and gritty and easy to imagine. The author crafts her words in a way that allow you to fully envision the world, which I've found is not something every author does for me. Penryn also has a mother and sister that she is responsible for, but their relationships are deeply twisted. Despite the comparisons to the aforementioned books, this book is a whole other animal entirely. I don't claim to know the publishing world, but I almost wonder if one reason this book is so good is because the author self-published the novel, and didn't have anyone she had to please. There are some things in this book so horrific that it's shocking, and there are some uses of language by male soldiers that you wouldn't expect to see in a YA novel, but they work. They feel real in this world that is supposed to be the end of days. Some post-apocalyptic novels don't manage to capture the feeling that the world has gone completely mad, they don't want to make things too gritty and dark for their heroine even if that is what would be realistic, but in this book, Susan Ee accomplishes just that. Cannibals, anyone?
The romance in this book is A+. While at times it does stray into the cliche of Penryn obsessing over the angel's beauty in her private thoughts, it never really became annoying, and she stayed focused on the task at hand. The romance in this book takes a backseat to the story, as it should in a world where so many things are happening, and as a result the end feels all the more heart-wrenching and real. You could actually feel this love develop, see how it might have become what it is, and you don't feel manipulated. This is important.
I've never been a fan of books centered around angels, but it seems after 2011, I can no longer say that is so. I enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Unearthly and now Angelfall immensely. I even think the angels in Angelfall were the most interesting. They are evil (but not all) and their wings and skin are unnatural colors. The author also takes the mythology and sticks close to it but spins it into something truly exciting. I don't know much about religion, but after the end of the book, I looked up the things referenced here and appreciated the book even more when I was through.
Self-published? Yes. I've never really read self-published books. I simply do not have the time to sift through for the hidden gems, when I've got so many other books on my shelves already, but this novel stands as proof that these gems are out there, and they need to be noticed. This was truly one of my favorite novels of the year and I could easily see it as a movie. It is better than several of the other hyped dystopian novels I've read and far more deserving of recognition. I truly hope the author receives it.
Recommendation: Dystopia lovers, Fantasy lovers, Angel lovers, Mythology lovers, Instalove haters, seekers of badass protagonists.
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LibraryThing member ReginaR
Angelfall was better than 4 stars for me, but not quite 5 stars. Yet it was still one of my favorites for 2011. I am pretty sure that my review cannot do Angelfall justice. So I will be quick.
The story straddles several genres; the main character is 17, there are supernatural beings and the world
The story straddles several genres; the main character is 17, there are supernatural beings and the world
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as we know it has ended – so a young adult urban fantasy post-apocalyptic novel is how I would categorize it. Angelfall is not a love story, but it does have a male and a female character trying to survive the destroyed world together and traveling on a mission together. Despite that this book is YA, it does not have an annoying teenage girl who continuously makes silly decisions; instead, Penryn, the main character, is strong, determined and focused on people outside of herself. Angelfall begins after an apocalyptic event has taken place that has killed off millions of humans and destroyed modern civilization. The event? Angels – yes angels from heaven have killed human beings and are dominating earth. These angels may be beautiful and awe inspiring, but they are not sweet. But there is mystery and things are unclear – it is not clear who is directing the angels and as the story unfolds it seems that all angels are not working together. All the stuff I love about post-apocalyptic novels are here – roving gangs fighting for survival, finding food to subsist on, scary human behavior due to dire circumstances, and a quest to save a loved on. In the midst of the quest and the roving gangs, Penyrn, has to survive, keep her little sister alive and deal with a mentally ill (and kind of scary) mother. I am anxiously waiting for the sequel, which is due out summer 2012 and I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is available for an amazing price right now at amazon – only .99 cents. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dc1p1
Loved this book from the minute I picked it up! I stayed up all night just to finish it and when I did I was instantly searching to see when the next one would be released! I was hesitant at first to read this because I have read other angel themed books and they weren't really my cup of tea, but
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this book blew me away! Seriously, get this book now! Show Less
LibraryThing member peptastic
Angelfall has a few elements in common with other fantasy and dystopian novels. There isn't a "We can shop for free" excitement but desperate scrounging in abandoned houses and offices for food and supplies.We're plucked right in the middle of Silicon Valley after Angels attacked the world.Penryn,
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her disabled sister Paige and her crazy mom have to make a break for freedom in the middle of the night. They pick the middle of the night because the scary street gangs stay inside for safety. If that isn't enough to tell you this plan is a bad one they also have a shopping cart loaded with rotten eggs. Penryn's mom is apparently schizophrenic. We take her word for it despite proof that Angels actually do exist since she insists on carrying rotten eggs with her. Plus her seven year old sister is disabled from an accident involving their mother when she was two. Why their dad chose to abandon his daughters with a mom who encouraged her daughter to take self defence classes by showing her a scrapbook of articles where mom's snapped and killed their daughters goes a lot to explain that Penryn is bad ass but not a Mary Sue. She really does have the world on her shoulders. She's had to suffer a childhood of abuse and abandonment. She feels responsible for her little sister and will do whatever it takes to save her. She makes a deal with an Angel she inadvertently rescues [which also causes her little sister to be kidnapped] so she can find her.This book was exciting most of the time but for the possible romantic bits.At least this is a series so the weaker points such as the undeveloped romance and the obviously juicy background details with her mom's inner demons will be explored. And what happens to Paige now she has those creepy razor teeth? Show Less
LibraryThing member Becky_Jean
There are not words for how much I loved this book. It sucked me in, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
The highlights: Penryn, our protagonist, is awesome. She actually reminded me a lot of Katniss in the Hunger Games books. She's tough, devoted to her sister in a world that
The interesting thing about Penryn and Raffe's dynamic is that Raffe is an angel in a world where angels are ruthless and destructive. We don't know much about why they descended on earth, but they aren't the gentle and loving version of angels. While I was worried it would become yet another "doomed lovers are so romantic!" storyline, it actually worked. Both characters grow as a direct result of their interactions with each other.
This book doesn't shy away from the dark or grim moments, and there's references to some pretty brutal stuff, including cannibalism, as well as murder and mutilation of children. There's also a running theme throughout the novel of religion (which isn't all that surprising), particularly false religion, and it's handled expertly.
Prior to the angels arriving, Penryn admits that technology served as humanity's religion ("Nothing short of the end of the world would get our eco-conscious techies to toss their latest gadgets onto the street. It’s practically sacrilegious, even if the gadgets are just dead weight now."), a pretty damning comment on our society's current dependance on technology. Unlike some religious cults that have sprung up since the angels' arrival on earth, Penryn insists she does not believe in God, at one point telling Raffe, “I am not afraid of you, your kind, or your god.” (Is Penryn badass or what?)
The end of the book is particularly fascinating, because it seems to suggest that humanity's salvation is not in relying on God to save them, but in themselves. Immediately after humans organize an attack on the angels, Penryn reflects that they are "ever so flawed. We’re frail, confused, violent, and we struggle with so many issues. But all in all, I’m proud to be a Daughter of Man." It's a beautiful and thought-provoking ending, and left me eager for the next book.
The highlights: Penryn, our protagonist, is awesome. She actually reminded me a lot of Katniss in the Hunger Games books. She's tough, devoted to her sister in a world that
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discourages emotional attachment, and above all, a survivor. Raffe, Penryn's sort-of love interest, is equally awesome. Unlike most male characters in YA books, he's highly flawed, and not in an endearing way. More than once, I wanted to tell Penryn to move on and leave his ass behind, only to be given glimpses of the person he is (hopefully) becoming. The interesting thing about Penryn and Raffe's dynamic is that Raffe is an angel in a world where angels are ruthless and destructive. We don't know much about why they descended on earth, but they aren't the gentle and loving version of angels. While I was worried it would become yet another "doomed lovers are so romantic!" storyline, it actually worked. Both characters grow as a direct result of their interactions with each other.
This book doesn't shy away from the dark or grim moments, and there's references to some pretty brutal stuff, including cannibalism, as well as murder and mutilation of children. There's also a running theme throughout the novel of religion (which isn't all that surprising), particularly false religion, and it's handled expertly.
Prior to the angels arriving, Penryn admits that technology served as humanity's religion ("Nothing short of the end of the world would get our eco-conscious techies to toss their latest gadgets onto the street. It’s practically sacrilegious, even if the gadgets are just dead weight now."), a pretty damning comment on our society's current dependance on technology. Unlike some religious cults that have sprung up since the angels' arrival on earth, Penryn insists she does not believe in God, at one point telling Raffe, “I am not afraid of you, your kind, or your god.” (Is Penryn badass or what?)
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LibraryThing member NeysaK
Angelfall definitely caught my attention because its cover. Some people says 'Don't judge a book by its cover', alright. But I mean, look at that gorgeous cover. Who can resist it? Obviously not me.
So, based only on its cover, Angelfall quickly made it to my TBR list. And when I decided to give it
For a self-published novel, this book definitely had its quality. The story was fast-paced without being too fast to understand, and the character was unique and fully developed (Except for Paige, which I don't mind since she was only present in some scene).
Angelfall combined both Fantasy and Dystopian, and where angels used to be all-kind-and-holy, Ee took a new turn and made her angel vicious and barbaric. It was nicely done, for me. But one thing I couldn't understand was, why Penryn was different to Raffe (compared to other human) and vice versa. Raffe part, I could get it. But Penryn part? I don't think so, because I thought that her hatred was bone-deep.
Ee pull a nice trick on the ending too, leaving us with a total cliff-hanger, yet it still was satisfying. Overall, you, fantasy-lover, definitely have to give this book a try, cause you won't regret it.
So, based only on its cover, Angelfall quickly made it to my TBR list. And when I decided to give it
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a try a few days ago, I don't regret it. At all.For a self-published novel, this book definitely had its quality. The story was fast-paced without being too fast to understand, and the character was unique and fully developed (Except for Paige, which I don't mind since she was only present in some scene).
Angelfall combined both Fantasy and Dystopian, and where angels used to be all-kind-and-holy, Ee took a new turn and made her angel vicious and barbaric. It was nicely done, for me. But one thing I couldn't understand was, why Penryn was different to Raffe (compared to other human) and vice versa. Raffe part, I could get it. But Penryn part? I don't think so, because I thought that her hatred was bone-deep.
Ee pull a nice trick on the ending too, leaving us with a total cliff-hanger, yet it still was satisfying. Overall, you, fantasy-lover, definitely have to give this book a try, cause you won't regret it.
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LibraryThing member 0Diana0
This isn't a mystery review: FIVE FREAKIN' STARS, MAN.
To start off, the premise is smart enough in itself. Ee takes two of possibly the most popular subgenres in young-adult lit right now and mixes them together - angels and dystopian (or I suppose more accurately, post-apocalyptic). Now, I'll be
And I am so glad I did.
Ee not only restores angels back to their original hell-raising glory, but she creates an entirely new spin on them. There are things in this book that are gruesomely imaginative (I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the angels do far more than burn down villages in this book - the torture is in some ways even worse psychologically). The world Ee created - the creatures, the angels' politics - is entirely her own, with complexities that fit within the realms of angel lore. I read somewhere once that angel books are basically Bible fanfiction, and there needs to be a certain amount of respect there. It made me laugh, but it's so true! And Ee does this, balancing traditional mythology with her own imagination perfectly.
Since the world is realistic (well, in a fantasy setting), it made me feel all the more for the characters. Penryn is - simply put - a cup full of awesome badassery. She's one of the best heroines I've ever had the pleasure of reading about - she's smart, she's occasionally funny, she's brave, but more importantly, she's loyal to her family. Family is so underrated in teen books, so I loved how it guided the plot for a change. Penryn gets how bad things actually are - she has her priorities straight. Survival comes first, always. She gets stuff done.
Raffe's pretty cool too - he's got his own problems he needs to deal with, and the two of them make an excellent team. I loved the snark and the slow build-up to trusting each other. I can see a romance developing which (despite my earlier rant on romances) I have no problems with!
But what really got me was the action. This book grabs you right away (you know those books that take 70 pages to get the ball rolling? This isn't one of them) and never lets you go. Shit is always about to hit the fan (or hitting it) which makes it unputdownable - you always need to know what happens next.
If I could make one complaint, it would be that I wish a few things had been answered. This book raises a lot of questions, but doesn't really answer any. (LOST deja vu anyone?) But, it is the first in a series, so that is to be expected on some level.
Highly, highly recommend this one! This book both creeped me out and excited me days after I had finished it. Read it before the movie comes out - yes, that is happening!
To start off, the premise is smart enough in itself. Ee takes two of possibly the most popular subgenres in young-adult lit right now and mixes them together - angels and dystopian (or I suppose more accurately, post-apocalyptic). Now, I'll be
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honest, my experience with those two subgenres haven't been great. I'm sick to death of angel romances, bastardizing the mythology as badly as writers have been doing with vampires lately, using the paranormal aspect as basically a veil to create tension between the fragile human girl and the "dangerous boy" without any intention of creating a plot. All "romance" no "paranormal," if you will. Most of the dystopias lately also kind of suck too, basically only in existence due to The Hunger Games frenzy. And there are STILL awful romances in them (sappy romance has NO PLACE in a post-apocalyptic scene, people!). I only picked this up because of the rave views. And I am so glad I did.
Ee not only restores angels back to their original hell-raising glory, but she creates an entirely new spin on them. There are things in this book that are gruesomely imaginative (I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the angels do far more than burn down villages in this book - the torture is in some ways even worse psychologically). The world Ee created - the creatures, the angels' politics - is entirely her own, with complexities that fit within the realms of angel lore. I read somewhere once that angel books are basically Bible fanfiction, and there needs to be a certain amount of respect there. It made me laugh, but it's so true! And Ee does this, balancing traditional mythology with her own imagination perfectly.
Since the world is realistic (well, in a fantasy setting), it made me feel all the more for the characters. Penryn is - simply put - a cup full of awesome badassery. She's one of the best heroines I've ever had the pleasure of reading about - she's smart, she's occasionally funny, she's brave, but more importantly, she's loyal to her family. Family is so underrated in teen books, so I loved how it guided the plot for a change. Penryn gets how bad things actually are - she has her priorities straight. Survival comes first, always. She gets stuff done.
Raffe's pretty cool too - he's got his own problems he needs to deal with, and the two of them make an excellent team. I loved the snark and the slow build-up to trusting each other. I can see a romance developing which (despite my earlier rant on romances) I have no problems with!
But what really got me was the action. This book grabs you right away (you know those books that take 70 pages to get the ball rolling? This isn't one of them) and never lets you go. Shit is always about to hit the fan (or hitting it) which makes it unputdownable - you always need to know what happens next.
If I could make one complaint, it would be that I wish a few things had been answered. This book raises a lot of questions, but doesn't really answer any. (LOST deja vu anyone?) But, it is the first in a series, so that is to be expected on some level.
Highly, highly recommend this one! This book both creeped me out and excited me days after I had finished it. Read it before the movie comes out - yes, that is happening!
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LibraryThing member HunyBadger
I have a feeling this is going to be my best book of the year...and it is only Jan10! I had read lots of glowing reviews and was skeptical that this could really be that good but I was wrong. It is the perfect level of what i love: a fantasy world without overdoing the descriptions, plot without
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giving it all away by chapter 2, romance without sappy dialogue, a strong heroine who kicks ass but also is more than a one dimensional fighting machine. The biggest problem I had with the book were the loose ends obviously left for a series and that it wasn't longer. I finished in 2 sittings and would have loved for it to have been 2 times longer. I never wanted it to end. Show Less
LibraryThing member les121
This was my first experience with a self-published book, and I was shocked - Angelfall is unequivocally good. The worldbuilding flows seamlessly into the story, creating a dystopian setting that is fantastic yet believable. The plot is fast-paced, the characters multilayered, and the relationships
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complex and heartfelt. I fell in love with Penryn and Raffe, and I can’t wait to read more about Penryn’s family, Raffe’s backstory, the human resistance movement, and the angels’ secret plans. Overall, Angelfall is a dark, masterfully crafted, and mature novel about loyalty, brokenness, love, and survival. This is dystopian fiction done right. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bridhett
I had seen Angelfall a couple of times on some websites and also read reviews pertaining to it, but I had never stopped to read it. I recently read it some weeks ago and I have to say, it definitely awestruck me. I thought that because of the current popularity of post-apocalyptic books that it was
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also going to sound so much like the others. Instead, Ms. Ee accomplished to take on a very interesting and different story on what would happen after an "apocalypse." I was very intrigued by both main characters, Penryn and Raffe, who seem to have so much in common despite their different "race" and constant bickering. I think that the twist of changing the angels from an angelic view to a more wrathful one was what was the most intriguing part of the book. Penryn's character was very unique because she was indeed a heroine in all aspects of the word. She is a fighter and that makes her very likable. The romance between Penryn and Raffe is kind of like a love/hate one but it is very sweet. Plus, its forbidden so that makes it even more interesting. Overall, I really loved this book and would recommend it to everyone! I can't wait until the second book comes out! Show Less
LibraryThing member paisean13
Angelfall had popped up on my Goodreads and Amazon recommendation list for a long time now and I usually just ignored it. Finally after deciding to read the reviews, and I saw that it was on $2.99 on Amazon, I decided to give it a go. I cannot believe I had ignored this book nor can I believe how
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much I enjoyed it. I have read a few angel-themed books before and though I enjoyed some, I must admit I found most lacking. Angelfall is not only a different take on angels, but also a dystopian novel. I like the fact that the period is set in a recent time frame and not set hundreds or thousands of years in the future as most dystopian novels. I loved the family dynamic between Penryn, Paige and their mother. I like the fact that although Penryn is a strong female character, the author still made her vulnerable and accessible. Even though there is an underlying and yet undiscovered feeling of romance between Penryn and Raffe, this book is not centered around said romance, but instead on the survival of the main characters and Penryn's determination to find her sister. This makes the book feel more "realistic" (if you can call angels attacking the earth "realistic") and more available to a mass audience. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who not only enjoys fantasy, but dystopian books as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmurray_69
I absolutely love this book!!! I devoured it and cannot wait for the next one! It was an absolute steal and I would have paid double the price after I knew how enthralling it would be. Penryn is an amazing lead character.
LibraryThing member DeweyEver
I love love love this book. It is a great post apocalyptic dystopian future story with....wait for it....angels. SOOO much better then the hunger games. I originally found it on amazon for a couple bucks and i thought what the heck, I'll bite. I could not put it down. I love Penryn. She is strong,
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she is smart, she knows how to defend herself and her taste in men is spot on. I would recommend this book to anyone on the planet. I just wish the next book would come out already!! Show Less
LibraryThing member GhostWriter57
Surprisingly good book.. was a kindle deal of the day. Interesting characters, good story. I am looking forward to the next.
LibraryThing member Yogiboo
Wow! Just finished reading this book. It's fast and very addictive! Had some nasty horror thrown in too which made it so much better. The books I've recently read about angels are tame in comparison. Very impressed and looking forward to the next one!
Awards
CYBILS Awards (Nominee — Young Adult — 2011)
Language
Original publication date
2011-05-21
Physical description
256 p.; 9 inches
ISBN
0983597014 / 9780983597018
Local notes
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel. Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
A fun romance, with lots of action and adventure.
A fun romance, with lots of action and adventure.