Redemption (Hearts of Stone, #1)

Apr 22, 2012 Haley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, dragons, magicy-stuff

3.5 stars.

Firstly, a thanks to Flux Books and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book.

Redemption is one of those novels that haunt you with excellent, puzzling questions. With an action filled beginning and a hope filled ending, there is no better story about magic and love.

Aude...Aude loves music, is part Native American and accidentally turned several stone gargoyles into teenage boys. And that summarizes the first three pages of the book.

Guillaume was one of said gargoyles. He...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Rebecca Rogers added it

Shelves: paranormal, paranormal-romance, romance, gargoyles

Read this back when it was just a Word document. Very unique and interesting, and uses something I don't see often in the paranormal world—gargoyles.

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Aug 16, 2012 Devon Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: omg-gimme-gimme-gimme, completed-arcs, reviewed-on-blog

Can time really heal all wounds? Probably...unless you're stuck in stone with nothing but your thoughts to haunt you for seventy years.

For the past seventy years, Guillaume, his father and his two brothers have perched atop the four corners of a church in Montreal as stone gargoyles. At one point they were able to shift into human and gargoyle-like forms, but since the death of the witch they protected, their essence faded away and they turned into stone, alive in spirit and forced to watch life...more
Can time really heal all wounds? Probably...unless you're stuck in stone with nothing but your thoughts to haunt you for seventy years.

For the past seventy years, Guillaume, his father and his two brothers have perched atop the four corners of a church in Montreal as stone gargoyles. At one point they were able to shift into human and gargoyle-like forms, but since the death of the witch they protected, their essence faded away and they turned into stone, alive in spirit and forced to watch life as it passes them by. Marguerite's family long held a deal with Guillaume's family - protect the witches and they will feed the gargoyles the essence necessary to keep them alive. Marguerite was the last in their line, and with her went the ability to keep Guillaume's family alive. That is, until the night Aude passes by and is attacked by three guys. Almost seemingly possessed, Aude chants a foreign tongue and the gargoyles break free from their prison.

But their release is only temporary. Without a witch to transfer essence over to them, they'll fade back into stone once again. Determined to learn why Aude was able to break them free and transfer a little energy their way, Guillaume nudges his way into her life, even though she's dead set against it. But Aude can't deny the fact that she keeps hearing tribal drums and chanting in her head, and she keeps getting attacked by various creatures. Not to mention the dead birds that fall around her and the mutant animals that always skitter across her path. When she learns these are the signs of a prophecy that hits a little too close to home, she's more than willing to learn what a few gargoyles may have to say in the matter. In order to have any chance of survival, she'll have to trust the gargoyles, and they in turn, her.

Something fresh and original that Redemption has going for it, besides the supernatural gargoyles, is Aude being able to manipulate and transfer the very essence of our being. It's similar to what I read in Fractured Light, but instead of harnessing Light, Aude is able to drain however much of our life's essence as she chooses and share as she sees fit. But as awesome as that is, she's as vulnerable as any other human, and therefore, can strike a bargain with supernatural creatures to protect her mortality. And a little love on the side? Why not, since the gargoyles can choose to age with their partner, only to return to the young age of seventeen all over again. How cool is that?

Aude is definitely a reluctant hero, and Guillaume a tortured soul, so they spend half of the novel refusing to bend for the other, which can be a little frustrating for those hoping for some romance. And the story's a little slow after that first big bang, even with a couple of attacks on her life, but the real action looms toward the last quarter, so stick it out.

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ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

REDEMPTION (Hearts of Stone #1) by Veronique Launier

GOODREADS BLURB: Guillaume: For five hundred years I've existed as a gargoyle. Perched atop an old Montreal church, I've watched idly as humanity wanders by. With the witch Marguerite gone, there is no one left to protect, nothing to care about. I never planned to feel again. But then a girl released me from my stone restraints, allowing me to return as a seventeen-year-old human boy. I must find out all I can about this girl's power . . .

REDEM...more REDEMPTION (Hearts of Stone #1) by Veronique Launier

GOODREADS BLURB: Guillaume: For five hundred years I've existed as a gargoyle. Perched atop an old Montreal church, I've watched idly as humanity wanders by. With the witch Marguerite gone, there is no one left to protect, nothing to care about. I never planned to feel again. But then a girl released me from my stone restraints, allowing me to return as a seventeen-year-old human boy. I must find out all I can about this girl's power . . .

REDEMPTION is the first storyline (September 8, 2012 release) in Veronique Launier’s new Hearts of Stone series-Four gargoyles whose life essences have been frozen for 500 years in stone only to be released from their prisons by a young woman with power that even she is not aware. Aude Vanier is a 16year old girl still in high school hoping to make it big with her band the Lucid Pill and while her friends Patrick and Lucy continue to brush her off, Aude soon realizes that something is different than it was the night before. Danger seems to follow Aude wherever she goes. The world is changing and Aude is at the center of it all.

Escape was her only option as Aude Vanier found herself on the run, in the streets of Montreal from a group of strangers she never knew. And the beautiful and haunting Native drums and chanting only intensified her need to escape. And the mysterious voices in her head led her to believe she had been hallucinating the entire event. But a second attack in less than two days has her senses on alert when she is told that she can force the prophecy-The Prophecy of the Seventh Generation.

Guillaume De Rouen and his ‘brothers’ (Garnier, Vincent and Antoine) were free but Guillaume’s curiosity meant he needed to find the young girl as soon as possible and Antoine’s concern meant shelter and money. Their recent release following 70 years of captivity was fraught with anxiety and stress, which lent to personal attacks and mistrust. With no one to protect-no witch to guard-their lives were without purpose and power. To survive in the present they would need to find an Essentialist to help replenish their essence but not knowing where to look would put the friends in a fight for survival.

Guillaume’s quest to learn more about Aude will figure prominently throughout the story. Her power and ability to chant and call the drums is something that concerns them both. But Aude’s visit to a Native Shaman would reveal more to Guillaume then he could ever had imagined-A connection to the past- a connection to the witch. But when a sudden gig for Lucid Pill is next on the horizon for Aude, Guillaume is sure that it is one of the many omens and warnings that are currently following Aude. An ancient Gargoyle is looking for Aude and Aude will soon discover that she is not quite human.

Following the revelation about her familiar roots, Aude continues to encounter varying ominous warnings. But when Guillaume finds Aude beaten and near death, he blames himself for not protecting the young woman with whom he has fallen in love. And Aude believes that his love has been misplaced for another. Aude needs the Gargoyle’s protection as much as they need her to survive. Only Aude will find herself the unwilling sacrifice that heralds the prophecy’s foretelling and one of their friends will die.

Throughout the novel there is told a story-a history of the DeRouen family- of Alice and Mary, of Marguerite and the love that she shared with Garnier and Guillaume 70 years before. Of the curse and the essence and the gargoyles of stone, and how they had come to be over 800 years ago. The history of the witch and the gargoyle and their symbiotic relationship is the premise of the storyline told.

REDEMPTION is an interesting novel. As the first storyline in the Hearts of Stone series the copious amount of background information is almost overwhelming. A family of gargoyles hoping to find their familiars is interwoven with native lore and fables. The relationship between Aude and Guillaume starts out of necessity for one, but by the end of the book, there is love for both. And Aude’s link to the gargoyles will be as close as blood when a familial connection is revealed.

Copy supplied by netgalley.

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Aug 10, 2012 Dorine White rated it 3 of 5 stars

It is time for Redemption by Veronique Launier, a YA paranormal.
The Story- Sixteen-year-old Aude Vanier has a problem, she keeps hearing strange chanting and drums beating in her mind.
400 year old Guilliaume has his own problem. He’s been stuck as a gargoyle on top of a church for the last 70 years. When Aude’s chanting releases him back into the world, he swears to protect her and find out what is going on.
Together Aude and Guilliaume uncover an ancient prophecy about the destruction of Montrea...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Dawnandwini rated it 4 of 5 stars

First off, Striking Cover Art! And I appreciate the originality of this book. This book is unlike anything I have read before, it’s a paranormal romance and it isn’t about Vampires or Shifter as are in trend these days. In this debut book, the otherworldly creature is a gargoyle, a human who has a heart of stone… could he love? And even if its heart is penetrated, will he survive?

Aude, AKA "Odd" is a freak or so she believes, as it turns out… well she just needed to understand her family tree. W...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Marsha rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young Adults

(2.5 Stars) This arc was provided to me by netgalley.com

I truly wanted to love "Redemption;" unfortunately, the plot did not live up to its' potential. Aude Vanier is a 16 year old teenage girl living in Montreal with her flighty mother. While walking in the city to meet up with some friends and fellow band mates, Aude is attacked by what seems to be a stone monster. In her head she begins hearing drums and chanting. The monster runs away as she feels a slight earthquake tremble. What she does n...more (2.5 Stars) This arc was provided to me by netgalley.com

I truly wanted to love "Redemption;" unfortunately, the plot did not live up to its' potential. Aude Vanier is a 16 year old teenage girl living in Montreal with her flighty mother. While walking in the city to meet up with some friends and fellow band mates, Aude is attacked by what seems to be a stone monster. In her head she begins hearing drums and chanting. The monster runs away as she feels a slight earthquake tremble. What she does not realize is that her actions reanimated four gargoyles sitting on a boarded up former cathedral.

Guillaume de Rouen is a gargoyle. He and his fellow brethen have awaken from a seventy year sleep. They have noticed the movement and actions of humans over the years but have ceased to be concerned with the day to day human drones. Then, they are awakened by a teenage girl named Aude. They realize they will not exist very long in their weakened state unless they are fed with the essence of a witch. However, how can this happen when all of the bloodlines for the de Rouen witches have died out?

Guillaume is determined to locate Aude and find out more about her. What he discovers is she is part Iroquois Indian and she may be a witch. She is unaware of the existence of gargoyles and witchcraft so she is suspect of what he really wants. Together they will discover that Montreal is doomed to burn if the ancient Iroquois prophecy is activated.

I've always been fascinated by gargoyles and was truly looking forward to reading this book. However, the writing was disjointed and although the plot was complex at times, there was a lack of depth in the writing. My biggest complaint is that gargoyles are traditionally associated with French-European architecture and myths; so, why then mix it with Iroquois folklore? It would have been much more compelling staying true to the original origins. The author did pay tribute to the 'Rouen' area of Europe where it is said to be the origin of the legend. This book just did not have the action, suspense or wow power most successful YA books seem to have. I did not dislike it, I just did not love it. At this point, I am confident I will not be reading any more books in the series.(less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Jennifer McCoy, YA Sisterhood rated it 3 of 5 stars

Redemption by Veronique Launier
ARC received by Flux Books via Netgalley
Release Date: 9-8-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: An twisted tale with a new paranormal creature

Redemption started off with a bang, capturing my attention right away. In the first few pages, Aude is attacked and somehow manages to awaken Guillaume and his family from the form they have been stuck in for 70 years. From this part I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to read more, however, from this first bang, thi...more Redemption by Veronique Launier
ARC received by Flux Books via Netgalley
Release Date: 9-8-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: An twisted tale with a new paranormal creature

Redemption started off with a bang, capturing my attention right away. In the first few pages, Aude is attacked and somehow manages to awaken Guillaume and his family from the form they have been stuck in for 70 years. From this part I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to read more, however, from this first bang, things began to slow down.

I had to push myself through the middle of the book in order to finish. It was slow going, and there were many parts that needed to more action. There were small bits of action (mainly more attacks) throughout the middle of the novel, but they started and were over very quickly, and they didn’t seem to add the spice the novel needed. Perhaps if there had been more romance, it wouldn’t have been so slow.
It did pick up again near the end and I found myself, once again, interested to see how the story was going to unfold. The end was fun and interesting, and it set things up for the next installment in the series. Had the rest of the story had the same bang as the beginning and end, it would have been a great book.

I did like the idea that Guillaume was a gargoyle. It was completely unique, and I really enjoyed the parts that dug into his history and the history of the witches that created him. I wish there had been more because these parts were the only things that kept me going through the middle of the book. Guillaume is broken and he feels like he can’t love someone. Watching him grow and discover himself was one of the better parts of this book.

I liked Aude—she’s spunky and self-aware, but I found it difficult to read about her when she was letting her mom get into her head. Her mother is, in my opinion, broken beyond repair and her views about men and life are rubbing off on Aude. Her mother really frustrated me, and I wanted Aude to stand up for herself and let her mother know that life isn’t that bad.

There were times when the prose was tight and poetic, but at other times it seemed forced and bland. One of my favorite quotes in the book echoed the shattered lives of Guillaume and Aude: “Because things fall apart, that’s what they do. There’s no such thing as happily ever after.” I really loved this line because it was heartfelt, and for the characters, it held so much truth. I wanted more of this type of prose and revelation. Again, hopefully the next book will be written more fluently.

The romance was sweet near the end, but there was so much lost in the middle because each of them were denying their feelings. It wasn’t angsty, either. It was just flat—I wanted to see more spark. I wanted to see a moment where Guillaume grabs Aude and presses her against the wall with a breath-taking kiss. But, that moment never came. If this romance is going to help the story, it must be more pronounced and steamy in the next book.

Overall, I found the idea of gargoyles to be unique and interesting, and I truly did want to know more about them. However, the slow-paced action really made it difficult for me to want to move forward. The characters were different and at times, fun. I am curious about what the future holds for them, but am I curious enough to read the sequel? Right now, I just don’t know.
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Apr 20, 2012 Ny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release

Check out more reviews at http://msbookqueen.com

Received as an ARC via netgalley
This book was definitely a different concept than I'm used to reading. I haven't thought much about gargoyles since I used to watch the tv show. A lot of this book was pretty slow but it picked up when it got closer to the end. Aude didn't really impress me as a character because she seemed too stubborn most of the time and afraid of change. I liked Guillaume even though he could be kind of a jerk at times. I liked t...more

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May 17, 2012 Kristy Sartain- Whispering Pretty Stories Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is an ARC and will be published in September 2012.

Redemption combines Native American and French Canadian cultures in a paranormal way. Guillaume (no idea how to pronounce this name) is a gargoyle, but not in the sense that we know gargoyles. Apparently hundreds of years ago a tradition began where witches “made” gargoyles to protect them. In exchange for their protection, the witches kept the gargoyles alive by providing them with an “essence”.

Guillaume and his “dad” and two “brothers” wer...more This is an ARC and will be published in September 2012.

Redemption combines Native American and French Canadian cultures in a paranormal way. Guillaume (no idea how to pronounce this name) is a gargoyle, but not in the sense that we know gargoyles. Apparently hundreds of years ago a tradition began where witches “made” gargoyles to protect them. In exchange for their protection, the witches kept the gargoyles alive by providing them with an “essence”.

Guillaume and his “dad” and two “brothers” were awakened by Odd. Her real name is Aude, pronounced Ode. Guillaume follows her to get to know her and find out how she awakened him. They become close friends and through a Native American water drumming class are able to find a Shaman who is able to answer lots of their questions.

There are some great twists and turns in this book. I’m not sure if it’s a stand alone or the first in a trilogy. The book ended in a way that left it open for either one. I liked how Odd accepted her role in the book with an amazing amount of grace. It was like all her questions about herself were finally answered. She almost seemed relieved. Once she was able to let go of herself, she really opened up to her heritage. I liked Guillaume, but would have liked to learn more about him as a person/gargoyle throughout history instead of one instance they kept focusing on, but if it’s a trilogy maybe we’ll get more of him.

Some technical criticism: I know this is an ARC, but it didn’t say uncorrected proof. I found tons of grammatical errors in this book. At one point, Kateri’s name is spelled wrong. “Alright” is not academically accepted and it is used in this book hundreds of times. The uses of “I” vs “me” need to be evaluated throughout the book as well. There were several times they were used incorrectly. I think with a couple of good grammar edits, the book will be much better. Because I am a self proclaimed grammar witch, grammatical mistakes jump out at me and I have a hard time enjoying the story.

I would recommend this book to students who enjoy paranormal and Native American history. It took several chapters to connect with the characters, so I will have to encourage students to keep reading through that because the book gets much better midway through and until the end.(less)

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Jun 06, 2012 Winnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

First off, Striking Cover Art! And I appreciate the originality of this book. This book is unlike anything I have read before, it’s a paranormal romance and it isn’t about Vampires or Shifter as are in trend these days. In this debut book, the otherworldly creature is a gargoyle, a human who has a heart of stone… could he love? And even if its heart is penetrated, will he survive?

Aude, AKA "Odd" is a freak or so she believes, as it turns out… well she just needed to understand her family tree. W...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Cas rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magic, paranormal

I was left disappointed. I had such high hopes, but it didn't live up to its' potential.
I wanted to love this book, truly, but the majority of the book was boring. Most of the action and excitement is at the end of the book.

For the characters I had a love-hate-don't care relationship with them.

Main girl, Aude or Odd, was at times too self-centered.
While main dude, Guillaume, I liked but, then he changed, do to the events of the book, and I couldn't help but not like him as much for it.
Other char...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Bridgid Dianne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Redemption was an interesting book. It should attract 16-20 year olds because of the elements involved in the story line. There is mystery, magic, rock music, and love. A 17 year old boy, Guilliume, has been encased as a gargoyle for 70 years. There is a 16 year old girl, Aude, who releases him as she is being attacked by stone monsters and she starts to chant in a language she doesn't know. There is also ancient Iroquois mysticism that reveals the destruction of Montreal.

Aude is a budding rock...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Tiffany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, free-review-ebooks, september-release, arc, 2012-challenge, read-and-review-finished

I received a free e-ARC of this book to review from Flux Books via NetGalley.com

I was really excited to read this book. I read the blurb and I thought it was amazing. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. Not that it wasn't good, it just didn't meet my expectations.

It is told from alternating points of view of the two main characters, Aude and Guillaume. This doesn't always work for books but in this case it fits well. I liked being about to see both sides of the story.

I'll start by list...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Marilyn Almodóvar rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’ve been wanting to read Redemption, since I read about it on Ms Launier’s blog, back in 2009. I was completely taken by the idea of Gargoyles.

I have to say that the wait hasn’t disappointed. Ms Launier’s debut novel brings a fresh new take on a market that is saturated by vampires, werewolves and angels.
Aude Vanier is a sixteen-year-old rock star with a problem—stone monsters keep attacking her. And when they do, she finds herself chanting in a language she doesn’t understand.
Guillaume de Ro...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-stars, fantasy, native-american, paranormal, read-in-2012, young-adult

Review Posted on Reading Lark 8/1/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I was so excited going into this one; it sounded like such a creative idea. Witches, Gargoyles, and a Native American prophecy equal a lot of potential in my mind. I have long been compelled by a well done witch tale and I have to give Veronique Launier bonus points for making her witches different from the traditional ones. Her variety wield essence rather than spells. In addition, I don't think I've ever read a YA bo...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Ashley (The Bibliophile's Corner) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf

First, thank you to Flux and NetGalley for permission to read this ARC.

This book held such promise. Gargoyles, French roots, Mohwawk prophecy. It is so original. Sadly, I only made it page 142. I feel terrible and have never given such a low review. But I just couldn't not get past the rather generic characters, the flawed dialogue and the inconsistent pacing.

At first, Aude seemed like she would be a fun and "Odd" character. But her pettiness, her doubt, and her ridiculous obsession with her b...more First, thank you to Flux and NetGalley for permission to read this ARC.

This book held such promise. Gargoyles, French roots, Mohwawk prophecy. It is so original. Sadly, I only made it page 142. I feel terrible and have never given such a low review. But I just couldn't not get past the rather generic characters, the flawed dialogue and the inconsistent pacing.

At first, Aude seemed like she would be a fun and "Odd" character. But her pettiness, her doubt, and her ridiculous obsession with her band got incredibly old. Really fast. One thing I do love about her is her French and Mohawk roots. I was really hoping to get this part explained, but sadly, I had to stop about halfway through.

Guillaume reminds me very much of the Edward from Twilight. And I don't mean this to be good. He stalks Aude because he knows something about her is tied to his an brother's and his release from being a gargoyle. He also has this annoying habit of telling the reader that he doesn't have feelings because he has a stone heart. Sadly, this was poorly executed. He did have emotions. Anger, confusion, doubt, etc. One thing I do love about him, is that he is a original supernatural character.

As for Lucy and Trick, Aude's friends, I disliked them, a lot. They were shitty friends and I wanted to punch them in the faces. For goodness sake, they stood up Aude so that they could have their own date and Aude gets attacked! Not okay. In fact, this is the only emotional response I had to the entire 140 pages that I read.

The dialogue was the biggest pitfall of this book. I understand that the guys are all really old, centuries old, so yes they have different ways of speaking. But I find it hard to believe that as gargoyles who can hear everyone below them, that they managed to not pick up on modern patterns and colloquialisms.

Also, I don't normally harp on this because I don't usually have an issue with this, but it seemed that Veronique was not trying enough for the guys inner dialogue to come across as...well, a guy. And on the flip side, I think she was trying way too hard with Aude as a petty teenager that it just wasn't believable.

As for the pacing, this entire first half was too slow and too fast at the same time. That probably makes no sense, so let me try to explain. The flashbacks went too fast and the modern times was going too slow for my liking. It would have been different if there were some world building or character building, but it was lacking in both.

I do want to say that I absolutely applaud Veronique for trying to tackle such a unique supernatural element. It's not everyday that I read about gargoyles.

Overall, I was hoping and hoping that this book would be wonderful. I mean hello, gargoyles! I have never read a gargoyle book in my life. I had such high hopes for this one but was sadly let down. (less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Kate rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, net-galley, galley, characters-i-hated, disliked-alot, douchery, drama, fantasy, male-and-female-pov, meh-characters, meh, modern-day, paranormal-romance, part-of-a-series, romance, supernatural, switching-pov, unrealistic, urban-fantasy, was-excited-to-read-but-in-the-end, why-the-hype, ya, wtf-ckery

For this review and more check out my blog

*I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review*

WARNING THERE MAY BE SOME SPOLIERS (NOT HUGE ONES) IN THIS REVIEW.

This book had a lot of potential I liked the idea of a fantasy romance book about gargoyles. I thought it sounded fresh and new, but unfortunately it was the same as half the YA books out there. It focuses on a girl who is a bit plain and a bit of a loner. She has undependable friends and a mother that she has to loo...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Kathryne [Paperback Fantasies] rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-acquired, aug-2012, release-sept-2012

When I discovered this book, I was super excited at the prospect of a paranormal romance involving gargoyles. I know we've all read vampires and werewolves, so it was nice to read something new. Redemption is an original addition to the world of Young Adult paranormal romance, even if it lacks a bit of finesse.

This book alternates between Aude and Guillame's point of view, and I'm not certain if I enjoyed that. Looking back I think it's the best way to tell the story in order to get Guillame's...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-around-paranormal, debuts-2012

Guillaume has watched humans pass by below his perch for centuries. Without a witch to grant them essence, he and his ‘brothers’ are stuck in their stone gargoyle forms. But then Aude comes along and somehow frees them. Strange things start happening to Aude; first she’s attacked by a terra cota man, and then she hears drums and the voice of a young man inside her head! Aude think she’s going crazy, but the reality is more unbelievable. Her heritage and powers are awakening, and she might be the...more Guillaume has watched humans pass by below his perch for centuries. Without a witch to grant them essence, he and his ‘brothers’ are stuck in their stone gargoyle forms. But then Aude comes along and somehow frees them. Strange things start happening to Aude; first she’s attacked by a terra cota man, and then she hears drums and the voice of a young man inside her head! Aude think she’s going crazy, but the reality is more unbelievable. Her heritage and powers are awakening, and she might be the answer to Guillaume’s troubles.

Veronique Launier weaves history, myth, and magic in this haunting tale about gargoyles and a girl who can reanimate them.

I was a big fan of the Gargoyles cartoon way back then, so when I read about this book I immediately wanted to read it. The use of gargoyles is one that hasn’t been used in YA fiction—at least not that I know of—and I was really excited. I’m happy to report that the Gargoyles were my favorite part! The way they changed, the way their magic worked, their stories, etc. A gargoyle’s sustenance is something called essence, which is life energy that only a witch can transfer to them. Since their witch died, they’ve been stuck in stone for a long time until Aude comes a de-stones them. This simple fact kept me turning the pages, even when my excitement disappeared because of the main characters.

Aude wasn’t the most likable heroine. She’s stubborn which I like, but she says certain off-hand comments that make her come off as selfish and bitchy. Her Mom was really messed up in the romance/relationship department and Aude turns out to be that way too. So though I understood where Aude’s attitude was coming from that still didn’t make it any easier to read. I thought she came off as very indecisive, one moment she wants her friend to ask her what’s wrong, the next she’s annoyed that her friend has asked her something personal. Aude’s friends start off as being inconsiderate, but by the end, I kind of sided with them. Aude is obsessed with their band Lucid Pill, and is furious at them for being a couple, because she says they’ll destroy the band by being together. What kind of friend is that?

Guillaume was a slightly better character to read, but sadly, he suffers from the same indecisive and bitchy streak as Aude. One min he wants to talk about Marguerite, the next he doesn’t, one min he loves his family, the next he’s being an ass to them. I didn’t really love Guillaume as a romantic interest either. His connection to Aude just wasn’t enough to endear him to me. Plus, there were certain things he did and said to her that made him a complete jerk.

Actually, now that I think on it, I liked the secondary characters more than the primary ones. Aude’s friends, Lucy and Patrick, were great (except for that first incident) and the gargoyles, Garnier, Antoine, and Vincent, were all interesting and engaging. I wanted to get to know more about each of them!

Aside from the characters, another thing that kept throwing me off was the switch of tense. The story from two point of views, Aude and Guillaume, and Aude’s POV is told in present tense, while Gullaume’s is told in past tense. My mind kept being bumped out of the story because of this. I couldn’t help it.

The ending was a rush, but a bit random too with no foreshadowing the events that occurred. I kept checking the percentage on my kindle. When it reached 95%, things still kept occurring I would have liked for things to have been more spread out. I do have to give big kudos to Launier for choosing a supernatural beastie that isn’t popular this day and coming up with a whole concept and reason for it. This novel had potential to be great, if only that action had been spread out evenly, and the characters hadn’t been that hard to swallow.

*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*

(less)

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Aug 07, 2012 Book Chatter-Cath rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf, netgalley, to-read-review, reviewed, grrrrr

reviewed at http://mybookchatterchat.blogspot.com

This book sounds fantastic - Gargoyles finally freed after decades of watching the world pass them by. Strange and awkward girl with untapped power mysteriously releases them from their concrete prison.

Sadly I got as far as page 145 and put it aside.
I just couldn't read another word.
There is too much stuff going on, and yet nothing really happens, the story just isn't going anywhere. And its boring - I want to read about the gargoyle Guillaume and...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Frishawn Rasheed rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-2012, best-of-2012-list-pick, gargoyles-oh-my, favorites

Just when you thought the world of supernatural fiction couldn't get any better. Along comes authoress Veronique Launier and her deliciously haunting tale, Redemption.
Tired of the run of the mill fare of were with a side of vamp and a zombie chaser?
How about Gargoyles?
That's right...
Gargoyles.
Not just any old gargoyles will do, you say?
Well, I've got a whole family of hot French gargoyles living in Canada.
Ooooh la la...right?

Guillaume and Aude are both characters that you will want to get to k...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read

3.5 Stars

GoodReads Synopsis: Guillaume - For five hundred years I've existed as a gargoyle. Perched atop an old Montreal church, I've watched idly as humanity wanders by. With the witch Marguerite gone, there is no one left to protect, nothing to care about. I never planned to feel again. But then a girl released me from my stone restraints, allowing me to return as a seventeen-year-old human boy. I must find out all I can about this girl's power . . .

Aude - Getting attacked twice in as many da...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aude, called 'Odd' by her friends, thinks that she is abnormal to begin with. All she wants is to stay in the background of life, except when she's on stage with her band Lucid Pill. But then she is attacked twice in one week and her life begins to spiral out of control, shifting her priorities. It might be important to finally find out who her Father was after all...and maybe puzzle out why she might have a connection to an ancient Mohawk prophecy that seems to fortell the apocalypse. Guillame...more Aude, called 'Odd' by her friends, thinks that she is abnormal to begin with. All she wants is to stay in the background of life, except when she's on stage with her band Lucid Pill. But then she is attacked twice in one week and her life begins to spiral out of control, shifting her priorities. It might be important to finally find out who her Father was after all...and maybe puzzle out why she might have a connection to an ancient Mohawk prophecy that seems to fortell the apocalypse. Guillame was a gargoyle for over five hundred years. But only for the last seventy have he and his brothers been on top of a church in Montreal, forced to watch the world pass them by. Once able to shift between human and gargoyle the end of the family line of their charge, witch Margeurite, put an end to that ability. Marguerite's family had a bargain with Guillame's - protection in exchange for the essence that kept the gragoyles alive. Then Aude is attacked near their church and chants some words, bringing them to life again. But without a witch of Margeurite's line to give them essence, the boys will become gragoyles again soon. Determined to find out why Aude was able to wake them, Guillame insinuates himself into Aude's life to get the answers. But Aude is hearing tribal drums and having odd encounters that point to her involvement in a prophecy. The gargoyles aren't the only ones interested in her and it will take some team work to make sure that they all make it out alive - starting with Aude and Guillame trusting each other. I thought that I had read almost every type of supernatural fiction humanly possible. Then I saw this book and the word GARGOYLES in the description and flipped out!!! I was super excited to read something so out of the common way. Plus, the connection to Mohawk culture completely sold me, because I love anything Native and always have. Aude is stubborn, a little bit selfish but totally full of heart and love for her Mom and her friends. Guillame has lived a long life with plenty of mistakes, but he still has something in him that is heroic and redeemable. My main complaint would be the slow-build, but that is understandable considering it's the first in a series. I liked the double point-of-view, because it let me see things from Aude AND Guillame's perspectives which fleshed out the story considerably. The major conflict was with the Terra Cotta Man and it felt resolved too easily, but I can see the makings of a superb villain in Vincent. It will be interesting to see where Launier goes with it. The romance wasn't immediate which was a nice change from most YA paranormal books. The shock of Aude's heritage was pretty interesting as well. I should have seen it coming but didn't. I am really excited and highly recommend this for anyone looking for something fresh and original.

VERDICT: 4/5

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is September 8th, 2012.*(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Shaheen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

For some reason I thought this was a book about a girl who was a gargoyle – serves me right for requesting a review copy of a book after only glancing at the blurb. So it took me a while to figure out that the gargoyle in question was a guy – and that a girl had woken him from a seventy year old sleep. Intriguing premise, but I think there was a lot of potential in this book that went unexplored, and not only did it end up being like all the other YA romances out there, it was kind of boring.

The...more For some reason I thought this was a book about a girl who was a gargoyle – serves me right for requesting a review copy of a book after only glancing at the blurb. So it took me a while to figure out that the gargoyle in question was a guy – and that a girl had woken him from a seventy year old sleep. Intriguing premise, but I think there was a lot of potential in this book that went unexplored, and not only did it end up being like all the other YA romances out there, it was kind of boring.

The lady in question, Aube, likes to go by the nickname Odd and proudly lives up to it. Except that the traits that are meant to make her seem eccentric but likeable – like Luna Lovegood – end up alienating the reader and making her extremely inacessible. She has an interesting home life – her mother skips from one relationship to another and Aube even comments, very early on, that she may as well accept money for what she does. Not the kind of thing a normal person says about their mother, but at least Aube is honest, right? Aube is obsessed with the band she is in with her two best friends, who have recently progressed their friendship into a relationship. Except Aube, being the self-centred little so-and-so she is, is convinced that the relationship will go nowhere and ruin the band.

Guillaume is a completely different story – he stalks Aube, buys her things she covets, puts her in danger – the usual YA hero type! I really can’t see what Aube sees in him. She continually points out she is not interested in him, but then waxes lyrical about how gorgeous he and his ‘brothers’ are. One of the things I like about Guillaume (man that’s a mouthful yeah?) is that he has an awesome family. His ‘brothers’ and ‘father’ are there for him whenever he needs them, and even though he and his best friend have some bad blood between them because of a lady, it’s still very sweet.

It was the story that failed to grab me though – the gargoyle angle could have been so much more interesting, complex and well executed. Instead it fell flat. The mythology wasn’t clearly explained, things just seemed to conveniently happen, and even the obstacles the group faced throughout the story seemed contrived. I read through it all, but I lost interest fairly early on and kept reading because I wanted to know more about the gargoyles and Aube’s connection to Marguerite.

I didn’t enjoy Redemption as much as I had hoped, and probably won’t be reading the sequels. I just have no emotional investment in the story or the characters. If you want to try a YA paranormal novel with a difference, then I’d suggest that you try this book – and I hope you enjoy it more than me.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .(less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Bodea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, netgalley

I was really excited about reading this book because, after werewolves, gargoyles are my muber one thing! There are just so few books out their about gargoyles so I consider it a treat when I come across one. Unfortunately, I haven't come across one that completely hits the spot, so to speak. Though I enjoyed Redemption, I thought the characters could have been more ...endearing and the story was a little too slow for my tastes. It starts off more slow than intriguing and stays that way for a lo...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Ash of Typing Tiara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, kindle, netgalley, read-in-2012, reviewed-typing-tiara-blog

Like any fantasy lover, I'm a huge fan of the classic creatures. Fairies, vampires, werewolves, mermaids, etc. But sometimes I crave something more. Something that's a little outside of the box, something that hasn't been done to death or become a crazy fad. Something that will make me marvel. Redemption's Gargoyles offered that to me. Yes, you read that right, GARGOYLES.

For a girl who has taken several mythology classes, I just can't seem to get away from the stuff. I'm addicted I tell you, and...more Like any fantasy lover, I'm a huge fan of the classic creatures. Fairies, vampires, werewolves, mermaids, etc. But sometimes I crave something more. Something that's a little outside of the box, something that hasn't been done to death or become a crazy fad. Something that will make me marvel. Redemption's Gargoyles offered that to me. Yes, you read that right, GARGOYLES.

For a girl who has taken several mythology classes, I just can't seem to get away from the stuff. I'm addicted I tell you, and even more so addicted to folklore, this was a great read. I love books that tie in to lesser known mythology. Now, don't get me wrong, the Greek stuff is great but everyone knows about those myths to some extent. I love to be surprised. I love to learn something new. I like obscure bits of folklore and Redemption is that. And with the Iroquois! [I'm a huge fan of Native American / Indigneous Peoples mythology in particular. I blame my completely awesome professor.] Now, I'm not sure how much of it is out of Veronique Launier's imagination and how much is true folklore as I'm not well versed in the mythology at play but I LOVED IT. And I especially love the fact that it makes me want to hit the books, and maybe Google, to find out what is what. I want to know more. I want to learn. And this book makes me want to do it.

The cast of Redemption was interesting to say the least. I especially enjoyed clueless Aude, and truly she was clueless and naive about some of the funniest things. But I think we all are. Its easy to be blind to what is right in front of you. And her stubbornness. And how wary she is of new people. Especially strange ones that seem to be stalking you. And I LOVED the Gargoyles, I really want to learn more about them all and their own backstories. The little bits and pieces were enough to bait me but I want it all, and I sincerely hope the next book delivers.

Overall I found myself liking this book and the change of pace that its' Gargoyles brought to it. I'm eager to see/read what Veronique Launier comes up with next for this crazy eclectic cast and would definitely recommend this to readers craving something a little different in their line-up. (less)

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Aug 30, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley-arc, supernatural-fiction, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed, you-call-it-love-i-call-it-hormones, all-surface-no-substance, blah-blah-blaaahhhh

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

This was yet another young-adult supernatural tale that started off quite strongly - with several unique elements - and then faltered midway, ending with disappointment and relief that it was over. Much like how I felt reading The Demon Catchers of Milan, Launier's Redemption is a novel that starts off so well and then manages to squander all that potential in favor of the same old same old things seen so often in the in the YA/PNR genre: a stalkeri...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

This was yet another young-adult supernatural tale that started off quite strongly - with several unique elements - and then faltered midway, ending with disappointment and relief that it was over. Much like how I felt reading The Demon Catchers of Milan, Launier's Redemption is a novel that starts off so well and then manages to squander all that potential in favor of the same old same old things seen so often in the in the YA/PNR genre: a stalkerish love interest, a focus on wishy washy romance angles and storylines, a slow-moving plot, and a main character who became so needy I couldn't stand her by the end. For a novel that started out with a bang and unique concepts, it went out with a cliched whimper. I'd rate the first 60ish pages higher than the rest - possibly a 3 or a 3.5, but this novel went downhill fast and a 2/5 rating is the fairest I can be, when looking back at this occasionally fun but ultimately unmemorable novel. By the end, I felt no enthusiasm reading Redemption - it was more like a chore that I had to finish rather than one I wanted to.

My problems with the novel started to rear their head before I was a third of the way through the 360-page book. Things that were working for this novel: unique paranormal beings (Gargoyles! The only other books I've read with them as a fixture are Karen Duvall's Knight's Curse series!), an unexplored and fresh mythology (Mohawk Native American legends and themes), and a fun, atmospheric location (Montreal!) to go with. Things that were NOT working: the dual narrative that switches too much, the loads of exposition, and the clunky, and often quite cheesy, dialogue between all the characters, romantic or otherwise. The alternating first-person POVs changed so often - occasionally after two or three pages, or even on the same page, that it made for a lot of head-jumping and frustration. It does help a little that the dual narratives sound nothing alike - modern and feisty Aude reads quite differently than the stone-hearted Guillaume, but it's too much too often.

The author can create atmosphere, but her ability is limited elsewhere. The story at the heart of Redemption is nothing new for all its original trappings, and the flashbacks interposed are hardly smooth - they're awkward, and jarring to the already-stuttering flow of the narrative, and do little to add to the overall plot of the novel. They came off as either exposition, filler, too short to have any impact, or are just plain annoying. I wanted to care about Aude, Guillaume, his "brothers", the bandmates - but I just couldn't relate to any of them, nor root for them as they fight their way through some truly obvious foreshadowing and clunky dialogue. The flat presentation of the characters, the hackneyed writing and plot, the multitude of convenient plot devices, the lack of subtlety or nuance in any form -- all served to distance me more and more from the novel itself and become more and more critical as the pages slowly kept turning.

Ultimately, Redemption came off as pretty formulaic for all its early promise of originality; cliched, and predictable. A few good ideas, a few funny lines lost in all the cheese, were not enough to keep me a fan of this novel. The series will continue, and I assume will garner its own particular brand of fans, but I am not and will not be one of them. (less)

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Aug 07, 2012 Gretchen Hohmeyer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley, reviewed, on-amazon

This review originally appeared HERE on my blog, My Life is a Notebook.

Yeah, you heard that right, this book is about GARGOYLES. Awesomesauce, right? Well, that was what I thought when I saw that there description on NetGalley and decided it could be the answer to my prayers for uniqueness. And you know what?

It kinda was.

Reading about something as new and exciting to me as gargoyles was amazing. I don’t know about you, but in a market saturated with vampires, angels and–coming soon!–mermaids, I...more This review originally appeared HERE on my blog, My Life is a Notebook.

Yeah, you heard that right, this book is about GARGOYLES. Awesomesauce, right? Well, that was what I thought when I saw that there description on NetGalley and decided it could be the answer to my prayers for uniqueness. And you know what?

It kinda was.

Reading about something as new and exciting to me as gargoyles was amazing. I don’t know about you, but in a market saturated with vampires, angels and–coming soon!–mermaids, I just couldn’t take it anymore. (Trends bother me SO MUCH, but I digress.) Anyways. Launier has certainly done her homework in her world building. She sets it up, she lays it out and she’s got an answer for everything. There are no plot holes here. The magic is also pretty awesome, because you’re working with gargoyles, French witches and Native American shaman. I don’t know about you, but *I* have never seen that combination before. Yet somehow Launier manages to connect it all.

However, the new type of world also does this book a disservice. You see, it’s almost like Launier feels she needs to spend so much time setting up her world that … nothing else happens. Until the last fourth of the book (or less!) I was becoming more and more bored about the outpouring of exposition on the magic system, gargoyles and even the family history surrounding almost all of the major characters. I’m not an exposition type of girl. I like to be given answers, but I prefer they happen around the action, not the other way around. Yes, to be fair, there WAS other stuff going on around the exposition, but just not enough for me.

The characters also fell a little flat for me. There are four gargoyles, neither of which seemed to be very different from the others, and Aude’s best friends were rather stereotypical. Aude herself just frustrated me, especially when she proved unwilling for CHAPTERS to find out more about her strange powers and why people were attacking her. I’m sorry, but if people were after me and there was Mohawk chanting in my head, I’d want to know!

In the last fourth of the book, though, things HAPPENED–and I mean they HAPPENED. Multiple things HAPPENED. The problem I had was that they happened too quickly, and they felt mashed together. Some things just didn’t make sense, and–worse–a lot of them just kinda resolved themselves in a snap. There was so much potential in that section that I felt disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong: I adored this world. I even liked that I was able to immerse myself so far into it. But the exposition got to be a bit much, and wasn’t really carried off by interesting characters. The last part of the book had a ridiculous amount of things happening, but a few of them just seemed to resolve themselves abruptly. All and all, though, I’d be curious to read the next book (as it seems to be set up for). There cannot possibly any more exposition anywhere within this story unless they bring in a whole new round of characters, which means that there would just be STORY. Done right, Launier has a fantastic idea here with great potential. I could see a second book easily becoming a four star or more if she applies the energy from the last fourth of Redemption over the whole manuscript.(less)

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Apr 13, 2012 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought the majority part of this book was kind of boring, and I couldn't really get into it until the last fourth of the book.

For a concept, I like that Launier wrote about gargoyles, a subject that has not been played out in mainstream young adult fiction. However, the story progressed kind of slowly, and there wasn't much action nor did I feel much of a connection with the characters in this book.

Like I said, the action didn't really happened until near the end of the book. And when it did,...more

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title link	preview: Redemption
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Redemption (Hearts of Stone #1)

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