Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

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!!