Think you've read your last angel book? Think again!
I was of the impression, before I started this book, that we really didn't need any more YA angel stories. Been there, read that, nothing different, yawn, big flapping things. But after seeing so many glowing reviews for this book, I thought (as I do!) I'd give it a go.
It's the apocalypse. And the end of humankind can be attributed to the angels who flew down from somewhere (not yet been confirmed if it is in fact from Heaven!) and started destroyed the world as we know it. 17-year-old Penryn spends her time and energy trying to find food and shelter for her wheelchair bound sister, Paige, and their schizophrenic mother. But when they witness a fight (five on one, mind you!) between angels, where the one has his wings sliced off (ouch!), Paige is swept up by an angel and carried off. Her mother having fled, Penryn knows she must do anything to find her sister, and she'll use the injured wingless angel as a hostage to help her.
I enjoyed this book far more than any of the other 'angel' books I have read. The apocalypse seems so surreal and yet because of it, it is fascinating. Penryn is strong, determined and stubborn but despite this tough facade you can see how important her sister is to her and that she really will do anything to get her back. Raffe, the injured angel, is intriguing. I really want to know his backstory, and more of Penryn's too. Slow reveals are agonising but I think this one will be worth it in the end! I like how Penryn thinks, how she won't let anyone tell her what to do. There was a line that stuck out to me, But I'm not quite ready to throw away centuries of scientific progress to start thinking like a medieval peasant (page 235). So they say they're messengers from God? Prove it!
There were a few lines that made me chuckle as well, especially watching Raffe and Penryn trade insults. But also my heart broke a little bit to see how much he cared for her in the end, knowing that as its the end of the world and all, there may not be anything for them. Especially considering the cross-species thing. All in all I was thoroughly entertained by this novel and am looking forward to the next one! So much for not caring for more angel books!