Shiirleyy's Bookshelf has migrated to Dear Shirley ! I will continue to post book reviews but there will also be a lot of personal and travel-related posts :)

Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

3 Aug 2012


Angelfall 
by Susan Ee
Publisher: Feral Dream
Release Date: May 21st 2011
Format: Ebook
Purchase/Pre-order: Book Depository

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.



Wow. Just…WOW. This book was so amazing! While I have nothing personal against self-published authors, I have to admit, I’m usually a little wary when I begin reading a self-published book. I’m always expecting misspellings, or grammar/punctuation errors or…you get the idea. But Angelfall had nothing of the sort. In fact, I don’t remember picking up a single mistake- and I always find mistakes even in traditionally published books. So, basically, Angelfall gave me an overall excellent impression.

As for the actual story; it was phenomenal. I’ve always been fascinated by angel lore; I think I’ve read around 80% of the angel-related YA books in the market, but I must admit, out of the 80%, less than a handful have been purely extraordinary. Angelfalldefinitely falls under the “extraordinary” category- it was a truly remarkable book! It was a plot-driven story, featuring believable main characters, and the pacing was perfect – seriously, everything was just astounding! I loved how there were also no info-dumping and overly detailed descriptions, (both of which I REALLY dislike :/)

I can proudly announce Penryn and Raffe are one of my all-time favourite YA couples! Their relationship was so wonderfully and beautifully crafted- I really couldn’t have asked for anything more. I loved the way they always argued back-and-forth, throwing insults at each other, each having a snarky comeback at the ready. It always lightened the otherwise dark and somber atmosphere. Oh, and I should mention that Raffe is incredibly good-looking; as in good-looking in an otherworldly beautiful way; as in he’s a freaking God. Yet, despite his immensely attractive and irresistible looks, not once did Penryn fawn over him. Not once did she get sidetracked from her familial responsibilities – saving her sister from the angels, and finding her mentally challenged mother. It was obvious what her priorities were- and falling victim to the charms of an angel, who’s her enemy? Not a chance. It was exactly the slow-burning romance between the two that made me love them even more; they both felt this inevitable pull toward one another, but as expected of an admirable heroine who had her priorities in check, she didn’t let her feelings spiral out of control.

I actually thought I had a substantial angel-related knowledge after reading so many angel books, but WOW, I never thought there was so much more to it. Ee introduced us to a completely different world of angels; they’re vicious, they’re cunning and there’s so much more to the life of angels and archangels than I’ve ever believed. That epic climax towards the end, was so incredibly thrilling – Ee sure knows how to write heart-racing action scenes, without overdoing it, and toying with our emotions at the same time! And I also loved how Ee didn’t hold back- some scenes were gruesome and quite disturbing but nothing was overdone. (Or at least I didn’t think it was!) Anyway,Angelfall is certainly one of the best angel books I’ve read (on par with Daughter of Smoke and Bone.) 

Anyway, to conclude, I definitely deserve to be slapped, strangled, gagged and flung into the deepest part of the freaking Atlantic Ocean and left to drown, for puttingAngelfall on hold for the past 6 months or so. I cannot believe I didn't devour it when I started it all those months ago- I mean WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH ME?!! If you’re reading this review, and have yet read the book, then you’re really looking for trouble. You do NOT want to suffer my wrath, so hurry up and BUY A COPY!! With a fantastic cast of believable characters, including such a courageous, loyal and absolutely delightful heroine, and a plotline so utterly captivating,Angelfall is seriously a book you cannot miss. It’s only $5.71 on Book Depository for a paperback, so GO AND BUY IT!! I guarantee you won’t regret it!!




16 comments:

  1. I am so happy you loved this! I totally agree with your review. Now you just have to wait for the sequel like the rest of us. ;)

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

    ReplyDelete
  2. Get.
    Out.
    On par with Daughter of Smoke and Bone? !!!!! That's a big call, Shirley. I'm holding you to it :P

    I can't even explain how freaking excited you have me to read this. I'm also seriously wary of self-pubbed books (but I just read Easy by Tamara Webber and effing LOVED), and... Sfsndndksg. Seriously? Ok. I'm running off to buy it. But... Please don't drown? I like you.

    Your review = too amazing for words.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Vivian @ Vivaciously, Vivian7 September 2012 at 18:43

    a "freaking GOD"! I loved that XD and this was a fabulous review, Shirley! <3 I understand how you feel about self-published books, I'm a fellow reader who finds missing quotation marks in books, but glad to hear that this book was a well-edited one. I LOOOOOOVE ANGEEELS!! Omigod, have to read this now, especially since it sounds like an absolutely phenomenal angel read! The characters all sound fantastic as well! Awesome, awesome review!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is such a gorgeous cover! I haven't heard much about this at all, I'm not sure if that's because it's self-pub'd! But I am totally sold on this book now, like you I've a fair few angel YA books but most of them aren't my cup of tea. This however sounds awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, about to become a self/published e-girl myself, I stand in awe that the book contained no grammar errors. Nice. I admire that on so many levels.

    Thanks for the review! It was very well put! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I totally get your hesitation with self-pubbed books, I always seem to have an eagle eye when reading them! But it's great how this made a good first impression on you!

    I've always been intrigued by angel books and your glowing review of this makes me eager to pick it up! The romance between Penryn and Raffe sounds A-MAZING - I adore it when characters argue and throw snarky remarks at each other before falling for the other! It's always so CUTE!!!!

    And we're not gonna slap you and strangle you and throw you into the Atlantic Ocean!!!! Hehe, or could this be my revenge on you for stealing Noah? ;) But at least in the end you read it, LOVED it and wrote a stunning review on it! Love you really, Shirley ;) <333

    ReplyDelete
  7. Like you, im also wary of accepting sp books, actually, I did once before and I told myself not to do that again. But with you loving it it sounds totally amazing, i mean this book sounds almost perfect. I might consider reading a selfpublish books again. Atleast, this book in particular. Great review Shirley. x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh wow! Your enthusiasm for this book just made me put it on my wishlist! Very curious about this book now and cannot wait to see how Ee built her angel world.

    Great awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  9. SHIRLEY!!!!!!!! Sorry I haven't been commenting on your blog lately! GAH, school is SO BUSY and it's taking A LOT of my time. Anyway...

    ANGELFALL! So, I've been hearing nothing but AWESOME things about this book so I definitely wanted to read it but after reading your review? I MUST READ THIS BOOK. MUST. MUST. MUST.

    I love books about angels so if this is an AMAZING book with different world of angels? I'm SO IN!

    Awesome review, Shirley! ♥ SO SO glad you enjoyed it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I haven't read this yet, BUT I WILL AS SOON AS I CAN!! I've heard only praise for this and it sounds terrific! I look forward to all the angellore, and the slow-burning romance and EVERYTHING. Fab review, Shirley! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. YAY YAY YAY!!! 5/5!!!! I can not believe I have not heard of this one before!!! The characters sound fabulous...the storyline sounds fabulous...and the writing sounds fabulous!!! You enthusiasm for the book really makes me want to look into it. Awesome review Shirley!!!! I adore angel books!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. YESSSSSSSSS SHIRLEY!!! I just finished this one and absolutely fell in love with it!!! I finished and was all WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE ANGELFALL, I LOVE YOU!!! Loved Penryn. LOVED Raffe. Loved everything about it. Things got a little strange there at the end for me, but I was also beyond curious and can't wait to learn what the angels were trying to accomplish with certain things. Fabulous, fabulous review!

    ReplyDelete
  13. OMG. SHIRLEY. YOU PUT IT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. I THOUGHT I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK BEFORE, BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THOSE FEW WORDS JUST DID TO ME. I NEED this effing book NOW. I remember reading all sorts of insane praise for it around release and though "I've GOT to check this out." Well... yeah. Like you, I'd been putting it off. I CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

    AND IT'S ONLY $5? DONE DEAL!

    BRILLIANT, GUSHY, CAPOSLOCK-INDUCING REVIEW!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes yes yes!! This book was amazing! I love this angel world. The wait for the sequel has been killing me! Great review. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Riya@The Teen Book Guru7 September 2012 at 18:44

    Me too! I always feel a little bit wary before starting a self-published book. I don't know why... O.o I'm SO happy to finally find a self-published book that's really good and promising! Haha I definitely do not want to suffer your wrath- so Imma pick a copy of this book up soon! Heehee and if I don't manage to... *hides*YAY for an awesome Angel book! Huzzah! Lovely review, Shirley! <333

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sam @ Realm of Fiction7 September 2012 at 18:44

    Well you've saved yourself from being strangled and gagged by me. ;) I'm so glad you have FINALLY read this book! Wasn't it just awesome? Like you said, only a small portion of angel books these days are truly phenomenal (most are pretty hit and miss for me actually) but Angelfall was amazing! I can't wait to get back to Penryn and Raffe soon. I heard the release for the second book got pushed pack to 2013 though. :( Anyway, fantastic review Shirley! :)

    ReplyDelete

Hey there,
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog :) Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section; I appreciate all comments left here!
If you have a blog, I'll be sure to visit it and comment back(I love finding new blogs so feel free to leave a link!)
Thank you & have a nice day