Published: 24th May 2011 (US)
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Goodreads description:
Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.
They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind
My thoughts:
This book has been out since September 201o in the UK, but the description did the book no justice at all. I always thought "oh, another angel book" (I'm not really a fan of angels) and refused to look any closer at it. I only read it because it was available on Netgalley and I thought "why not". Honestly, it's one of those books that makes you think WHY did I not pick this book up sooner? WHYYYYY. It's SO good. And so different from other angel books too.
The angels in this book are from another world, they feed on human energy which causes the angel burn-and this can manifest as mental illness, or in other illnesses such as MS or cancer. The worst part is that those fed upon by angels believe the angels have helped them and become besotted with them-hence the invention of the Church of Angels, a cult-like group of worshippers dedicated to these beings. I loved this different take on angels it was really unique and refreshing. Alex is an angel killer-but can't bring himself to kill Willow despite his orders and so the two go on the run desperate to avoid the hoards of angels and angel worshippers baying for their blood.
I loved Alex and Willow's relationship. It was so strained at first-Alex was taught anything remotely angel was evil and should be killed and you can see him struggling against that teaching initially. Willow resents Alex's attitude towards her, and the fact she's had to leave her family behind to run away. The two characters were very well developed and very likable. My only criticism is that what their relationship evolved into was a bit sugary sweet for my liking, I did find myself rolling my eyes occasionally. But how they got to that point was almost unique in YA nowadays.
The story itself was really interesting-I've said it before but I love 'on the run' stories for some bizarre reason but this book wasn't just filled with that-there was plenty of extra stuff going on as well making the plot action packed and nerve-wracking to the end.
I really liked the switching POVs in this book-it was so cute to see Willow's perspective of Alex and then Alex's perspective of Willow. It definitely made everything between them feel more realistic. This book was interesting in the sense that Willow's narration was first person, whilst the narration told from Alex and the other characters points of view was 3rd person. I actually quite enjoyed that. It could flip as quicky as one paragraph to the next but because you knew only Willow was in 1st person it was very easy to keep up.
Something that happened towards the end of the book really bugged me but that was on more of a personal note rather than its relation to the story. It's easy to see where the rest of the trilogy will go from here, there wasn't a cliffhanger but you were left wanting to know more which I thought was very well done.
Overall this book was a unique take on the supernatural element of angels-which has been severely overdone recently. Alex and Willow's relationship was so realistic, so heartbreaking and sweet that you really connected with them both and wanted a happy ending for them.
I would give it 4.5/5
I loved Alex and Willow's relationship. It was so strained at first-Alex was taught anything remotely angel was evil and should be killed and you can see him struggling against that teaching initially. Willow resents Alex's attitude towards her, and the fact she's had to leave her family behind to run away. The two characters were very well developed and very likable. My only criticism is that what their relationship evolved into was a bit sugary sweet for my liking, I did find myself rolling my eyes occasionally. But how they got to that point was almost unique in YA nowadays.
The story itself was really interesting-I've said it before but I love 'on the run' stories for some bizarre reason but this book wasn't just filled with that-there was plenty of extra stuff going on as well making the plot action packed and nerve-wracking to the end.
I really liked the switching POVs in this book-it was so cute to see Willow's perspective of Alex and then Alex's perspective of Willow. It definitely made everything between them feel more realistic. This book was interesting in the sense that Willow's narration was first person, whilst the narration told from Alex and the other characters points of view was 3rd person. I actually quite enjoyed that. It could flip as quicky as one paragraph to the next but because you knew only Willow was in 1st person it was very easy to keep up.
Something that happened towards the end of the book really bugged me but that was on more of a personal note rather than its relation to the story. It's easy to see where the rest of the trilogy will go from here, there wasn't a cliffhanger but you were left wanting to know more which I thought was very well done.
Overall this book was a unique take on the supernatural element of angels-which has been severely overdone recently. Alex and Willow's relationship was so realistic, so heartbreaking and sweet that you really connected with them both and wanted a happy ending for them.
I would give it 4.5/5
I enjoyed this book, but I thought that Willow and Alex's relationship got a bit grating! :)
ReplyDeletetotally, totally agree. That's why it only got 4.5 It got a bit too sickly sweet for me towards the end.
ReplyDelete4.5 it must be pretty good. I like Angel books, well I used to...gone off them recently but this does sound good.
ReplyDeleteNice review.
Great review! I just received this book from netgalley and can't wait to start it!
ReplyDeleteI really liked this book! The romance was a little sugary towards the end. But I really liked the unique aspect of angels!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree that the relationship got too much by the end; it was embarrassing to read about! But apart from that, I really liked the book too. I felt like I should have read it earlier as well, I have no idea why it took me so long to pick up a copy! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteOne of my fave angel books - it's so different to any other angel book I've read! Can't wait for the next book!
ReplyDeleteThe more I see this book, it's like I totally want to read it- but I'm not DYING to anymore! *irritating* because I've heard such great things about it!!
ReplyDeleteoooo I got this one from Vicki on Saturday and I really wanna read it but have so many others that I wanna read too! I will try and get round to it soon! thanks for your great review! :D
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one yet but from what I've read of your review the description does not do the book justice! Great review, I'm really looking forward to reading this one!
ReplyDelete